Billing Manual for Community Care Network Providers

If minor consents to treatment or counseling related to the diagnosis or treatment ofdrug or alcohol abuse and dependency without the involvement of a parent orguardian, the written authorization of the minor will be obtained by Community Careprior to the release of patient utilization records.Mental Health Services. The Mental Health Procedures Act authorizes any person14 years of age or older who believes that he/she needs treatment and understandsthe nature of treatment to consent to examination and treatment. A parent orguardian may consent to treatment of children less than 14 years of age.Community Care will not release the utilization records of any member without thewritten authorization of the person providing consent to treatment.Significant Member Incidents: Reporting of Child Abuse. In accordance withapplicable law governing child abuse, providers are required to report all incidents ofsuspected child abuse. Community Care will ensure that a Childline phone numberis made available to providers and conspicuously listed in the Provider Manual alongwith the appropriate forms for reporting and documenting suspected incidents ofabuse.Release of Information Related to Treatment of Mental HealthCommunity Care complies with pertinent provisions of the Mental Health ProceduresAct, the Mental Health and Mental Retardation Act of 1966 and regulations promulgatedby the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare and set forth in the Mental HealthManual at 55 Pa. Code §§5100.31 et seq. defining appropriate release of informationrelated to mental health treatment.Persons seeking or receiving services from a mental health provider may expect thatinformation will be treated with respect and confidentiality so that trust and confidence intherapeutic intervention may develop. Mental health records subject to this policyinclude, but are not limited to, written clinical information, observations and reports, orfiscal documents relating to the member which are required or authorized to beprepared by the Mental Health Procedures Act or by the Mental Health and MentalRetardation Act of 1966, and any central files and reports which are required to bemaintained by the Department of Public Welfare or other statutes or regulationsregarding services for mental health programs.Community Care will not release the records of any Member, 14 years of age or older,who understands the nature of the documents to be released and the purpose ofreleasing them without the written authorization of the member.For the member who lacks this understanding, any person chosen by the member mayexercise this right (if that person is found by the administrative head of the facility or hisdesignee to be acting in the member’s best interest).If the member is less than 14 years of age or has been adjudicated legally incompetent,control over the release of records may be exercised by a parent or guardian.Community Care Provider Manual | 1-888-251-CCBH | © 2012 All Rights Reserved | Page 162