LOS ANGELES COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH
  Policy 302.01 First Service Contact
 
Policy Category:  Clinical 
Distribution Level:  Directly Operated and Contractors
Responsible Party:  Quality Assurance
 
Approved by Curley L. Bonds, MD, Chief Medical Officer on Mar 06, 2023
 
I.  PURPOSE
 
To provide Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH) directly operated programs policy and procedures related to the first service contact and timely opening of service episodes.

Contracted agencies shall develop an internal policy and associated procedures that are consistent with their organizational practices and meet the requirements set forth in this policy.
 
II.  DEFINITIONS
 
Client: Potential clients, clients and/or legal guardians/representatives.

Emergency Psychiatric Condition: A condition due to a mental disorder in which the client poses a current danger to self or others, or is immediately unable to provide for or utilize food, shelter, or clothing, and requires psychiatric inpatient hospitalization or psychiatric health facility services. (9 CCR § 1810.216)

Service Episode: A period of treatment with a defined start and end date that indicates a formal relationship between a client and service delivery entity.
 
III.  POLICY
 
Prior to delivering Specialty Mental Health Services (SMHS) to a client, staff shall:
  1. Log the request for services in accordance with DMH Policy 302.14 Responding to Initial Requests for Service; 
  2. Provide the client with the Notice of Privacy Practices in accordance with DMH Policy 502.01 Notice of Privacy Practices;
  3. Obtain Consent for Services and, if applicable, consent for telehealth and/or telephone services in accord with the procedures section of this Policy; 
    • Consent for Services shall be obtained prior to opening an Episode.
  4. Notify the client they may request the DMH Provider Directory at any time;
  5. Offer the client a copy of the Mental Health Plan Beneficiary Handbook and notify it is available upon request in accord with DMH Policy 201.01 Beneficiary Rights and Responsibilities;
  6. For adults, provide information on Advanced Health Care Directives in accordance with DMH Policy 200.01; 
  7. Conduct Financial Screening and inform the client of the results in accord with the procedures section of this policy; and,
  8. Open an Episode in the DMH electronic health record (EHR) in accordance with the procedures section of this policy.
The first SMHS provided may be any appropriate service that best meets the needs of the client.
  1. Best practice is for the first service to be in-person or via telehealth in accordance with DMH Policy 308.01 Telehealth & Telephone Services, with the exception of record review.
  2. The first service may be via telephone in accordance with DMH Policy 308.01 if clinically appropriate and best meets the needs of the client.
  3. The first service contact shall include informing the client of the assessment and service process.
IV.  PROCEDURES
 
Procedures - First Service Contact
 
V.  AUTHORITIES
 
California Code of Regulations Title 9 Sections 1810.216 and 1810.360
California Family Code Sections 6924, 7002, and 7120
California Health and Safety Code 124260
California Welfare and Institutions Code Sections 5709, 5710, 14705, and 14184.402
Department of Health Care Services Behavioral Health Information Notice No: 22-013
Department of Health Care Services Behavioral Health Information Notice No: 21-073
 
VI.  ATTACHMENTS
 
Consent for Services (MH 500)
Short-Doyle/Medi-Cal Organizational Provider’s Manual
Provider Directory
Mental Health Plan Beneficiary Handbook