Mental
Health Care in
Arizona
Mental health care is
care for emotional or
behavioral problems. The
problem may be
short-term, like
depression after
childbirth, or it can be
long-term, like manic
depression or autism.
Mental health care in
Arizona can
include:
-
Diagnostic tests, to
identify a mental
health problem
-
Clinical and
hospital care
-
Prescription drug
benefits
-
Counseling or
therapy for
individuals,
families, and
couples
-
Group counseling or
therapy
You can ask for a
referral from your
primary care doctor,
your mental health care
provider, or your health
plan. In some plans, you
may be able to make an
appointment directly
with a mental health
care provider.
Read your Evidence of
Coverage (a booklet
about your benefits) or
call the phone number on
your Membership Card to
find out what you need
to do to see a mental
health provider. Some
plans have a behavioral
health care phone number
on the membership card.
You can call this
number.
Questions and Answers
How do I get care for
a substance abuse or
addiction problem?
Check your Evidence of
Coverage, or call your
health plan to see if
substance abuse problems
are covered. Substance
abuse is not one of the
conditions that must be
covered under the Mental
Health Parity law. If
substance abuse or
addiction problems are
covered, you can ask
your doctor to refer you
for treatment. You can
also call your health
plan and ask if you can
see a behavioral health
care provider without a
referral. Ask for a list
of providers.
What if the medicine
I need is not covered?
Ask if there is a
similar drug that is
covered that you can
try. See
prescription drugs.
If your doctor thinks
you need a drug that is
not covered, your doctor
must make a special
request to your plan. If
your plan still says you
cannot get the drug, you
can
file a complaint with
your plan.
Will my health plan
cover residential
treatment?
Ask your plan if
residential treatment is
covered. A residential
treatment center
provides long-term
treatment and 24-hour
supervision. It is
usually less restrictive
than a psychiatric
hospital.
Ask how long residential
treatment lasts and what
you will have to pay.
Ask where residential
treatment is provided.
You will need
prior approval
from your health plan
before you receive
treatment. If your plan
says the treatment is
not medically necessary,
you can
file a complaint with
your plan.
What if I have
Medicaid?
Medicaid provides mental
health care. If you are
in a Medicaid managed
care plan,
call your plan
What if I have
Medicare?
Call your health plan
and ask what mental
health care services it
covers. The Mental
Health Parity Law does
not apply to
Medicare
plans.
Resources
National Alliance for
the Mentally Ill (NAMI)
An advocacy group for
people with mental
illness and their
families
1-800-950-6264 (Spanish)
www.nami.org
(Spanish)
National Institute of
Mental Health
Information and research
on mental health
treatments
1-866-615-6464 (Spanish)
www.nimh.nih.gov
National Mental
Health Association
Information, advocacy
and referrals for adults
and children
1-800-969-6642 (Spanish)
1-800-433-5959 (TTY)
www.nmha.org
