Getting Mental Health Support Using AHCCCS Insurance
Adequate mental health support is critical for the world we live in today. Rates of suicide are high, with a national average of 14.1 per 100,000 people. In Arizona, the death rate is higher at 19.5 deaths per 100,000 people. Whether you are in crisis now or need support in case of crises in the future, finding therapists that accept AHCCCS is the first step in getting that critical support.
At Catalina Behavioral Health, we believe you should never feel limited in your choices for care when using AHCCCS or another provider. For this reason, we work closely with many types of insurance. This ensures our services remain affordable and accessible to all groups. Keep reading to learn more about AHCCCS and coverage of mental and behavioral health services at Catalina!
Fast and Free Insurance Verification – Call Now!
What is AHCCCS?
The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System is Arizona’s version of Medicaid that makes healthcare more accessible to state residents. It works similarly to an HMO insurance plan by providing coverage for certain doctors, specialists, and services within the network. The goal is to make healthcare more affordable to everyone, particularly at-risk groups.
Who is Covered by AHCCCS Insurance?
Accessibility to healthcare like mental and behavioral health services is a prevalent problem in Arizona and other states. To address this problem and better the community, programs like AHCCCS exist to make healthcare more accessible. In addition to providing access to a wide range of treatments including hospitalizations, inpatient programs, and therapy, AHCCCS can also help with transportation to and from appointments.
Individuals receiving AHCCCS must be residents of Arizona and fall under certain income guidelines. Other groups are also covered, including disabled or elderly individuals, caretakers, pregnant women and children, individuals with developmental disabilities, and more. Individuals who receive Medicare while living in Arizona but who need help paying copays or associated costs may also qualify.
Does AHCCCS Cover Therapy?
Yes, AHCCCS covers therapy in Arizona as part of behavioral health coverage. For example, other elements of therapy include supervised, therapeutical, and medical day programs, residential services, rehabilitation services, crisis services, and support services like case management, child care connections, and transportation Treatment services available through AHCCCS include consultation, assessment, counseling, treatment, and medication.
How Do I Find the Right Therapists that Accept AHCCCS?
Many healthcare programs like AHCCCS have a set list of providers that they work with. This includes primary doctors, surgeons, hospitals, inpatient treatment facilities, therapists, and much more.
When you struggle with grief, anxiety, depression, or a general lack of happiness, it’s hard to focus. You don’t want to spend time searching through a provider’s handbook or on hold with your insurance company- call us directly instead. We can easily verify any type of insurance and provide you with access to effective approaches at Catalina for both inpatient and outpatient programs!
What Other Mental and Behavioral Health Support Does AHCCCS Offer?
Support for mental and behavioral health does not look the same for each client. Typically, a treatment plan will address a client’s goals and needs. A specific plan will be put into place to help them enact certain changes in their lives. This could mean challenging thought patterns, learning coping skills to help you act differently in stressful situations, or discussing the events that led up to therapy.
At Catalina, our goal is to provide the support for mental and behavioral health that our clients need to thrive. Some individuals turn to us because they are struggling with their life-work balance or because they’ve recently experienced a loss or traumatic event. Others seek help after a flare-up of symptoms from an existing mental illness or diagnosis.
It does not matter if your struggles are new or if you have a previously diagnosed mental health condition. Act now and reach out today. Our team of therapists and other individuals are trained in evidence-based therapies selected for their effectiveness. These treatment approaches provide the support clients need to make important changes and better their lives.
Does AHCCCS Cover Prescription Costs?
For individuals taking medication to help manage mental and/or behavioral health, AHCCCS also covers prescriptions in most cases. The exception is individuals who have AHCCCS in addition to Medicare- prescriptions are not covered by AHCCCS for Medicare patients.
Some medications that may be prescribed (and paid for) include SSRIs, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, barbituates, tranquilizers, anxiety medications, and more.
How to Use AHCCCS for Therapy
Using AHCCCS for therapy is as simple as using any other type of insurance for therapy. Call our team at Catalina Behavioral Health and find out if AHCCCS will pay for your therapy today. Individual therapists that accept AHCCCS can also be found on the official Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System website.
We have experience working with insurance companies and can easily access information regarding your coverage. While it is helpful to know information like your Member ID number, sometimes we can verify your insurance coverage using other identifying information. This is helpful if there have been any recent changes regarding medical coverage.
Does AHCCCS Have Copays for Therapy?
Most people find that they qualify for AHCCCS and do not have copays for therapy. In other cases, individuals with AHCCCS might have nominal copays. Nominal copays are generally less than $3. However, nominal copays are also called optional copays and providers cannot withhold service if clients are unable to pay their copay.
Are There Out-of-Pocket Costs for Psychiatry?
Generally, individuals who have coverage using AHCCCS do not have to pay out of pocket for psychiatry. While not every individual seeking therapy needs to see a psychiatrist, a psychiatric clinician will be able to provide an accurate/updated diagnosis and prescribe or make changes to medication if needed.
Get Effective Detox and Rehab Options – Call Now!
Does AHCCCS Cover Inpatient Behavioral Health Treatment?
Yes, AHCCCS will pay for clients to attend inpatient treatment in Arizona and the therapy that is generally included. This includes mental and behavioral health problems that include 24/7 supervision at a facility, as well as partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs.
Programs such as these help individuals who are struggling to learn important coping skills for managing symptoms. Additionally, the group setting sometimes used as part of these treatments can help an individual develop a sense of community, acceptance, and social support.
What Happens After My Insurance is Verified?
Once AHCCCS is verified, you’ll have an intake appointment with a member of our team who has experience working with clients to identify their needs. Often, this involves an appointment where you are asked questions about your decision to seek therapy. This might involve discussing any traumatic experience or stresses related to your condition, existing mental diagnoses, health history, and more.
What if the Therapist I Choose Doesn’t Accept AHCCCS?
While our team of therapists at Catalina does accept AHCCCS, not all therapists do. For your treatment to be covered completely, acceptance of AHCCCS is important.
Even without AHCCCS, though, many of our clients pursue services using self-pay or private health insurance options at Catalina. Act today and call us to discuss options for payments, whether you have AHCCCS coverage or not. We can assist you in crafting a treatment plan that helps you deal with anxiety, depression, or other conditions that affect your life no matter your financial status.
Can I Use a Therapist Outside of My Network?
Yes, it is possible to work with clinicians outside of your provider’s network. However, in most cases, you will need to pay for these services yourself as an out-of-network provider does not work with AHCCCS. This means AHCCCS will not cover services rendered.
What is the Difference between In-Network and Out-of-Network Therapists?
Essentially, choosing a provider or clinician that is “in-network” means they have contracted with AHCCCS to provide healthcare services. For providers that are “out-of-network”, coverage is not guaranteed. Often, you’ll need to pay out-of-pocket when you work with therapists outside of the AHCCCS network if that is who you are insured through.
Up To 100% of Rehab Costs Covered By AHCCCS – Call Now!
Find a Therapist That Accepts AHCCCS at Catalina
At Catalina Behavioral Health in Tucson, our main goal is to understand our client’s unique needs and offer the support they need to thrive. For some, that involves helping them learn more about AHCCCS coverage and the services offered, including therapy.
Act now – pick up the phone and contact us today. No matter where you are in your wellness journey, our team will work with you to find the most effective type of treatment. From there, you’ll find the support needed to make important changes in your life on the journey to feeling like the best version of yourself!