LOS ANGELES COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH
  Policy 201.01 Beneficiary Rights and Responsibilities
 
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 Sep 26, 2024
I.  PURPOSE
 
To ensure the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH), as the Local Mental Health Plan, acknowledges state and federal laws regarding the rights and responsibilities of persons eligible to receive medically necessary mental health services.
 
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.

Specialty Mental Health Services (SMHS):
  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.
Workforce Members: Employees, legal entity practitioners, fee-for-service (FFS) practitioners, locum tenens, interns, volunteers, contract workers, and other persons whose conduct in the performance of work for the Department or its offices, programs, or facilities is under the direct control of the department, office, or program, regardless of whether they are paid by the Department/County.
 
III.  POLICY
 
DMH shall notify beneficiaries of their rights and responsibilities through the distribution of the Beneficiary Handbook at intake and as requested.

Workforce members shall ensure the rights and responsibilities of beneficiaries when providing SMHS.
 
IV.  PROCEDURES
 
Procedures - Beneficiaries Rights and Responsibilities
 
V.  AUTHORITIES
 
California Code of Regulations Title 9 Sections 1810.2051810.2471810.360; and 1830.205.
Code of Federal Regulations Title 42 Sections 438.10; 438.100(b); and 438.206 through 438.210.
 
VI.  ATTACHMENT
 
Beneficiary Handbook