LOS ANGELES COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH
  Policy 201.02 Non-Discrimination of Beneficiaries
 
Policy Category:  Clinical
Distribution Level:  Directly Operated and Contractors
Responsible Party:  Patients' Rights Office
 
Approved by Curley L. Bonds, MD, Chief Medical Officer
Reviewed and Approved by Clinical Policy Committee on Mar 06, 2024
I.  PURPOSE
 
To establish policy regarding non-discrimination of beneficiaries in the rendering of mental health services in the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH/Department).

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
 
Beneficiary: Any person certified as eligible for services under the Medi-Cal program (9 CCR § 1810.205).

Discrimination: The unjust or prejudicial treatment of people based on a protected class.

Protected class: Sex, gender identity, race, ancestry, age, color, national origin, disability, marital status, religion, economic status, medical condition, sexual orientation, or other legally recognized defined characteristics.

Specialty Mental Health Services (SMHS): (9 CCR § 1810.247)
  1. Rehabilitative services, including mental health services, medication support services, day treatment intensive, day rehabilitation, crisis intervention, crisis stabilization, adult residential treatment services, crisis residential treatment services, and psychiatric health facility services;
  2. Psychiatric inpatient hospital services;
  3. Targeted Case Management;
  4. Psychiatrist and Psychologist services;
  5. Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) Supplemental Specialty Mental Health Services; and,
  6. Psychiatric nursing facility services.
III.  POLICY
 
DMH shall prevent discrimination in admissions and provision of services on the basis of a protected class.
 
DMH shall not deny services to beneficiaries who provide verbal consent for services but refuse to provide written signature for any mental health service.

DMH shall not discriminate in the provision of services based on beneficiaries' inability to pay or lack of Medicare, Medi-Cal, and Children Health Insurance Program coverage.
 
DMH shall demonstrate respect and dignity to every person encountered in the line of work.
 
DMH shall comply with the Department's Policy 605.02, Harassment.
 
DMH workforce members shall not use or threaten to use any official authority or influence to prevent a beneficiary from reporting fraud, waste, or misuse of County resources prohibited in the Los Angeles County Code § 5.02.060.  

DMH workforce members shall not retaliate against a beneficiary who has reported fraud, waste, or misuse of County resources.
 
DMH workforce members shall show respect to persons of all cultural and linguistic backgrounds by providing clinically competent, culturally sensitive, and linguistically appropriate services.

DMH shall make the Grievance/Appeal Form available to beneficiaries at all times.
 
IV.  PROCEDURES
 
No procedures are associated with this policy.
 
IV.  AUTHORITIES
 
VI.  ATTACHMENTS