FAQ
I think my family member needs help.
How can I get help for him/her?
This can be one of the most difficult and stressful situations
a person deals with in his/her life. Express your concern honestly
and directly. Talk about events and behaviors rather than making
judgments. You might say for example, “I am really worried
about you because you have not slept in three days.” or “I
was really scared last night when you got angry and threw the book
across the room.” Tell him/her that you want them to get help
and offer to go along to the first appointment. Contact Psychiatric
Emergency Services at (512)
454-3521 to discuss your concerns.
Are Crisis Line Services from Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES)
a substitute for counseling or therapy?
Absolutely not! Individual or group therapy with a licensed professional
is the most effective way to learn to deal with long-term, ongoing,
or repetitive problems. Pyschiatric Emergency Services licensed
professional can refer you to appropriate agencies for counseling
or therapy, as needed.
What are Psychiatric Emergency Services Crisis Line and Walk-in
Service hours?
- PES is open 24 hours a day, 7 days/week (never closes).
- The Single Point Of Entry (SPOE) is open during normal business
hours, 7:30am-5pm, Monday through Friday.
A friend has talked about suicide. How do I know if I should
take him seriously?
Take every comment about suicide seriously! Sometimes people state
very directly that they are thinking about killing themselves and
sometimes they drop hints that they are thinking about suicide.
A person might say, “My family would be better off if I was
dead,” “Nobody would even care if I was gone,”
“Sometimes I just can’t take it anymore,”….
Ask the person directly if s/he is thinking about suicide. Ask about
the plan - the more specific the plan, the more likely it is a person
will attempt suicide. A person who has attempted in the past is
more likely to attempt again. For more tips on talking with a person
who is considering suicide, go to the websites of the American Association
of Suicidology (www.suicidology.org)
and/or the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (www.afsp.org)
and or the Mental
Health Association in Texas to view a Suicide Prevention Toolkit
for Texas Communities. Call Psychiatric Emergency Services Crisis
Line at (512) 454-3521 to discuss your concern about your friend
or family member.
Suicide Warning Signs
- Threatening to hurt or kill oneself or talking about wanting
to hurt or kill oneself
- Looking for ways to kill oneself by seeking access to firearms,
available pills, or other means
- Talking or writing about death, dying, or suicide when these
actions are out of the ordinary for the person
- Feeling hopeless
- Feeling rage or uncontrolled anger or seeking revenge
- Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities—seemingly
without thinking
- Feeling trapped—like there's no way out
- Increasing alcohol or drug use
- Withdrawing from friends, family, and society
- Feeling anxious, agitated, or unable to sleep or sleeping
all the time
- Experiencing dramatic mood changes
- Seeing no reason for living or having no sense of purpose
in life
How do I obtain Medical Records?
To obtain medical records, please download the AUTHORIZATION
FOR RELEASE OF PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION form. If you have
any questions, you can contact the Clinical Records department at
Austin Travis County MHMR by calling (512) 483-5800 or (512) 447-4141.
The form can be faxed to 512-445-7726 or mailed to Austin Travis
County MHMR at P.O. Box 3548, Austin, Texas 78764-3548 Attn: Clinical
Records. A Consent to Release Protected Health Information must
be completed before we can release any medical records.
Can I look for resources on-line?
Yes. ATCMHMR shares a database with United Way of the Capital Area.
Go to United
Way website and click on the “Community Resouce Database”
tab.
Medicare Information: Important Information
on New Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit
Medicare is introducing a new prescription benefit, effective January
1, 2006 for persons receiving Medicare and those persons receiving
both Medicare and Medicaid (dual eligibles). This new prescription
benefit called Part D, will allow eligible persons to receive their
medications through Medicare. The following information is provided
to help answer any questions you may have. It is very important
that you learn about this benefit so that you can continue to receive
the medication you need.
How do I find out about this new plan?
Medicare will be sending you information about the new plan, including
information about enrollment and choosing the best plan.
Will the plan cover medicines I take for mental illness?
Yes the plan will cover medicines used to treat mental illness.
Is there a limit on the number of medications I can receive
within 30 days?
No, there is no limit.
Will there be only one plan for medications or a choice
of plans?
There will be a number of plans to choose from.
How do I enroll in a plan?
Persons who have Medicare and Medicaid (dual-eligibles) will be
automatically enrolled. However, you will still need to review
the plan you are enrolled in so you can change it if necessary.
Other persons who have Medicare can choose their plan and enroll
during the enrollment period. Persons with Medicare only, who
do not enroll by May 2006, will be automatically enrolled. It
is very important to review the medication plans and enroll during
the enrollment period. If you don’t enroll during the enrollment
period, there may be delays in getting your medications or additional
costs. Enrollment begins on November 15, 2005.
How much will the plan cost?
For most people, the plan will cost about $37 a month PLUS an
annual deductible of $250.
What if I need help paying the monthly cost and deductible?
Extra help will be available for some. All persons receiving Medicare
and Medicaid will automatically receive extra help (a subsidy).
All other persons needing help will have to apply through the
Social Security Administration.
Social Security Administration form 1020 must be completed to
request assistance. The Social Security Administration will then
notify you if you qualify for extra help. This form is available
on the Social Security Administration web site at www.ssa.gov.
This form should be completed right away.
Will all the plans cover the same medications?
No, the medications covered under the plans may be different.
Once the plans become available, it will be important for you
to make sure the plan that you enroll in covers your medication.
How will I find out if my medications are covered?
Beginning in October, a prescription finder on-line tool (on the
internet) will be available to check which drugs are covered by
each plan. This tool will be available at: www.medicare.gov
Where can I call or find more information?
Medicare: 1-800-Medicare
Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services:1-877-267-2323
Social Security Administration:
1-800-772-1213
Starting in March 2005 the Center is
changing the way services are offered.
Q: Why is the Center reducing the number of people they
serve?
A: The state’s Resiliency and Disease
Management service delivery model has created the need to reduce
the numbers served so the consumers that are served can get the
highest quality of care. In addition, the Center has been serving
more clients than is supported by available funding, resulting in
cost over-runs to the Center, especially for medications.
Q: Will consumers have to go to a waiting list if they
are currently receiving services through the Center?
A: No. Consumers currently being served by the Center will
not go to a waiting list as long as they do not drop out of services.
Q: Will consumers still be able to get their medications?
A: Yes, as long as they do not drop out of services.
Q: What does 'drop out of service' mean?
A: Consumers that miss appointments for three (3) months
in a row will be closed to Center services. If a consumer wants
to return to the Center for services, the consumer will be placed
on a waiting list.
Q: If a consumer is in crisis but not currently served
by the Center, will they have to go on the waiting list for crisis
services?
A: No. Consumers in crisis will receive intervention services
through Psychiatric Emergency Services but will not be admitted
to on-going services. Once the crisis is resolved they will be placed
on a waiting list.
Q: Are there any exceptions to being placed on a waiting
list?
A: Yes, consumers who have Medicaid or STAR; have been discharged
from state facilities; and consumers referred by the criminal justice
system will not be placed on a waiting list.
Q: How will consumers on the waiting list be notified
of available services?
A: Center staff will notify consumers of available appointments
for services.
Q: What efforts has the Center made to inform consumers
and the community about this change?
A: During February 2005 the Center has discussed service
capacity problems with Board of Trustees, the Consumer Council,
the Citizen Planning Advisory Committee (CPAC) and the Network Advisory
Committee (NAC). Membership of both the CPAC and NAC includes 50%
or more family members and consumers. State and local advocacy organizations,
state and local elected officials as well as key staff have been
informed. The New Milestones Foundation, the VOICE Committee and
additional interested stakeholders will receive written information
and or visits from staff during the next few weeks.
Q: How will current consumers be notified of this change?
A: Notice explaining the current situation and stressing
the importance of keeping appointments will be mailed in the near
future to all consumers who are now in service.
Resiliency Clinic
The Center recently opened the Resiliency Clinic (a project funded
in part by the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health) at 3205 South
1st Street in Austin.
Q. How did the establishment of the Resiliency Clinic
come about?
A. The Center recognized that a number of people that had been previously
eligible for services would not be under the new State rules. The
Center submitted a funding proposal to the Hogg Foundation for Mental
Health and was awarded a $100,000 grant.
Q. What services will be available?
A. Assessment and a medication prescription with a psychiatrist;
Short term counseling with a therapist; and Health education classes
with a health educator.
Q. Who will be eligible to receive services?
A. Adults who are assessed and do not meet the State’s eligibility
requirements. Adults who are assessed as a Level of Care (LOC) 1,
3 or 4 will be able to see the Therapist, as their psychiatric services
are intact at the Center.
Q. Is there a waiting list to receive services?
A. At this time there is no waiting list.
Q. How much will it cost to receive services?
A. All individual services with both the doctor and therapist will
have a co-pay of $5. Group therapy will have a co-pay of $2.50/person.
Health education classes will be provided at no charge.
Q. Where is the clinic located and what are the hours of
operation?
A. The address is: 3205 South 1st Street, and the hours of operation
are 8AM to 5PM.
Q. Will medications be available at the clinic?
A. Medications will not be dispensed at the clinic; however, those
persons eligible for the Patient Assistance Program (PAP) will receive
their medications at their home address.
Q. How many persons will be served?
A. The clinic is expected to serve 200 persons annually.
Q. How do I find out if I am eligible for services?
A. Eligibility is determined by completing a psychiatric assessment.
You may call (512) 472-HELP to schedule an assessment.
Notice of Privacy Practices
This notice describes how medical information about you may be
used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information.
Please review it carefully.
When you receive treatment from Austin Travis County MHMR (ATCMHMR),
we will obtain and/or create health information (protected health
information) about you. Health information includes any information
that relates to your physical or mental health or condition, the
health care provided to you, the payment for your health care, and
individually identifiable information, such as your name, address,
telephone number or social security number.
This notice tells you about our duty to protect your health information,
your privacy rights, and how we may use or disclose your health
information. It is effective beginning April 14, 2003.
ATCMHMR’s Duties:
- The law requires us to protect the privacy of your health information.
This means that we will not use or let other people see your health
information without your permission except in the ways we tell
you in this notice. We will safeguard your health information
and keep it private. This protection applies to all health information
we have about you, no matter when or where you received or sought
services. We will not give permission to any person to interview,
photograph, film, or record you without your written agreement.
We will not tell anyone if you sought, are receiving, or have
ever received services from ATCMHMR, unless the law allows us
to disclose that information.
- We will ask you for your written permission (authorization)
to use or disclose your health information. There are times when
we are allowed to use or disclose your health information without
your permission, as explained in this notice. If you give us your
permission to use or disclose your health information, you may
take it back (revoke it) at any time. If you revoke your permission,
we will not be liable for using or disclosing your health information
before we knew you revoked your permission. To revoke your permission,
send a written statement, signed by you, to the ATCMHMR office
where you gave your permission, providing the date and purpose
of the permission and saying that you want to revoke it.
- We are required to give you this notice of our legal duties
and privacy practices, and we must do what this notice says. We
can change the contents of this notice and, if we do, we will
have copies of the new notice at our offices and on our website,
www.atcmhmr.com. The new notice will apply to all health information
we have, no matter when we received or created the information.
- Our employees must protect the privacy of your health information
as part of their jobs. We do not let our employees see your health
information unless they need it as part of their jobs. We will
discipline employees who do not protect the privacy of your health
information.
- We will report any information about a crime committed by you
either at ATCMHMR or against any person who works for ATCMHMR
or about any threat to commit such a crime unless law prevents
it.
- We will report any information about suspected child abuse
or neglect to appropriate state or local authorities unless law
prevents it.
- We will not disclose information about you related to HIV/AIDS
or alcohol or substance abuse without your specific written permission,
unless the law allows us to disclose the information.
Your Privacy Rights at ATCMHMR
- You can look at or get a copy of the health information that
we have about you. You can choose to get a summary of your health
information instead of a copy. If you want a summary or a copy
of your health information, you may have to pay a reasonable fee
for it. There are some reasons why we will not let you see or
get a copy of your health information, and if we deny your request
we will tell you why. You can appeal our decision in some situations.
- You can ask us to change information in your records if you
think the information is wrong. We will not destroy or change
our records, but we can put the new information in your records
and make a note in your records that you have provided the information.
Sometimes we may not add this information, but will make a note
of your request in your records.
- You can get a list of when we have given health information
about you to other people in the last six years. The list will
not include disclosures for treatment, payment, health care operations,
national security, law enforcement, or disclosures where you gave
your permission. The list will not include disclosures made before
April 14, 2003. There will be no charge for one list per year.
- You can ask us to limit some of the ways we use or share your
health information. We will consider your request, but the law
does not require us to agree to it. If we do agree, we will put
the agreement in writing and follow it, except in case of emergency.
We cannot agree to limit the uses or sharing of information that
are required by law.
- You can ask us to contact you at a different place or in some
other way. We will agree to your request as long as it is reasonable.
- You can get a copy of this notice any time you ask for it.Treatment,
Payment, and Health Care Operations
We may use or disclose your health information to provide care
to you, to obtain payment for that care, or for our own health
care operations.
ATCMHMR is a part of the Texas Department of Mental Health and
Mental Retardation (TDMHMR) service delivery system. Health information
about you may be exchanged between ATCMHMR, funding sources of
mental health and mental retardation and substance abuse services,
ATCMHMR programs, local mental health or mental retardation authorities,
community MHMR centers, TDMHMR facilities and other health care
providers, for purposes of treatment, payment, or health care
operations, without your permission. Alcohol and substance abuse
information will only be released as allowed by law.
Treatment: We can use or disclose your health
information to provide, coordinate, or manage health care or related
services. This includes providing care to you, consulting with another
health care provider about you, and referring you to another health
care provider. For example, we can use your health information to
prescribe medication for you. Unless you ask us not to, we may also
contact you to remind you of an appointment or to offer treatment
alternatives or other health-related information that may interest
you.
Payment: We can use or disclose your health information
to obtain payment for providing health care to you or to provide
benefits to you under a health plan such as the Medicaid program.
For example, we can use your health information to bill your insurance
company for health care provided to you.
Health Care Operations: We can also use or disclose
your health information for health care operations:
- Activities to improve health care, evaluating programs, and
developing procedures;
- Case management and care coordination;
- Reviewing the competence, qualifications, performance of health
care professionals and others;
- Conducting training programs and resolving internal grievances;
- Conducting accreditation, certification, licensing, or credentialing
activities;
- Providing medical review, legal services, or auditing functions;
- Engaging in business planning and management or general administration;
and
- Managing software and databases in the Center’s operations.
Fundraising: Fund raising by New
Milestones Foundation for ATCMHMR (this information is limited
to your name, race, age, gender, birthday, address, dates of service
with ATCMHMR). For example, you might be contacted by New Milestones
Foundation for fundraising purposes.
Unless you are receiving treatment for alcohol or drug abuse,
ATCMHMR is permitted to use or disclose your health information
without your permission for the following purposes:
- When required by law. We may use or disclose your health information
as required by state or federal law.
- To report suspected child abuse or neglect. We may disclose
your health information to a government authority if necessary
to report abuse or neglect of a child.
- To address a serious threat to health or safety. We may use
or disclose your health information to medical or law enforcement
personnel if you or others are in danger and the information is
necessary to prevent physical harm.
- For research. We may use or disclose your health information
if a research board says it can be used for a research project,
or if information identifying you is removed from the health information.
Information that identifies you will be kept confidential.
- To a government authority if ATCMHMR thinks that you are a victim
of abuse. We may disclose your health information to a person
legally authorized to investigate a report that you have been
abused or have been denied your rights.
- To Advocacy, Inc. We may disclose your health information to
Advocacy, Inc., in accordance with federal law, to investigate
a complaint by you or on your behalf.
- For public health and health oversight activities. We will disclose
your health information when we are required to collect information
about disease or injury, for public health investigations, or
to report vital statistics.
- To comply with legal requirements. We may disclose your health
information to an employee or agent of a doctor or other professional
who is treating you, to comply with statutory, licensing, or accreditation
requirements, as long as your information is protected and is
not disclosed for any other reason.
- For purposes relating to death. If you die, we may disclose
health information about you to your personal representative and
to coroners or medical examiners to identify you or determine
the cause of death.
- To a correctional institution. If you are in the custody of
a correctional institution, we may disclose your health information
to the institution in order to provide health care to you.
- For government benefit programs. We may use or disclose your
health information as needed to operate a government benefit program,
such as Medicaid.
- To your legally authorized representative (LAR). We may share
your health information with a person appointed by a court to
represent your interests.
- In judicial and administrative proceedings. We may disclose
your health information in any criminal or civil proceeding if
a court or administrative judge has issued an order or subpoena
that requires us to disclose it.
Some types of court or administrative proceedings where we may
disclose your health information are:
- Commitment proceedings for involuntary commitment for court-ordered
treatment or services.
- Court-ordered examinations for a mental or emotional condition
or disorder.
- Proceedings regarding abuse or neglect of a resident of
an institution.
- License revocation proceedings against a doctor or other
professional.
- To the Secretary of Health and Human Services. We must disclose
your health information to the United States Department of Health
and Human Services when requested in order to enforce the privacy
laws.
- If any part of your health information identifies you as an
alcohol or drug user, ATCMHMR will not disclose that part of your
health information to any person outside of ATCMHMR without your
written permission except as allowed by law.
- Federal and State laws prohibit redisclosure of information
about alcohol or drug abuse treatment without your permission.
COMPLAINT PROCESS:
If you believe that ATCMHMR has violated your privacy rights, you
have the right to file a complaint. You may complain by contacting:
ATCMHMR Consumer Rights Officer
(512) 440-4086 (Austin)
P.O. Box 3548
Austin, Texas 78764-3548
You may also file a complaint with:
TDMHMR Consumer Services and Rights Protection/Ombudsman Office
(512) 206-5670 (Austin) or (800) 252-8154 (toll free)
P.O. Box 12668
Austin, Texas 78711
Region VI, Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
1301 Young Street, Suite 1169
Dallas, Texas 75202
OCRComplaint@hhs.gov
Office of Attorney General
P.O. Box 12548
Austin, Texas 78711
(800) 463-2100 (toll free)
www.oag.state.tx.us
Texas Commission
on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (TCADA) 1-800-832-9623
For complaints against alcohol or drug abuse treatment programs,
contact the United States Attorney’s Office for the judicial
district in which the violation occurred. To locate this office,
consult the blue pages in your telephone book.
You must file your complaint within 180 days of when you
knew or should have known about the event that you think violated
your privacy rights.
ATCMHMR will not retaliate against you if you file a complaint.
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