This regulation governs the payment of transportation expenses by the Connecticut Department of Mental Health for mentally ill or alcohol-dependent persons being transported to or from state-operated psychiatric facilities or licensed public treatment facilities. It establishes definitions, conditions for reimbursement eligibility, documentation requirements (Form MHCC-15), and cost-control rules such as requiring the least expensive appropriate transportation method and limiting mileage charges when multiple persons share a vehicle. Facility operators must ensure proper certification of necessity and timely billing to qualify for departmental payment of transportation costs.
View official sourceAgency Department of Mental Health Subject Transportation of Mentally Ill or Alcohol-Dependent Persons Inclusive Sections §§ 17-205a-1—17-205a-3 CONTENTS Sec. 17-205a-1. Definitions Sec. 17-205a-2. Payment of transportation expenses Sec. 17-205a-3. Least expensive transportation; transporting two or more persons - I- Revised: 2015-3-6 R.C.S.A. §§ 17-205a-1—17-205a-3 Regulations of C onnecticut State Agencies TITLE 17. Public Assistance & Welfare Services Revised: 2015-3-6 D epartm ent of M ental H ealth R.C.S.A. §§ 17-205a-1—17-205a-3 §17-205a-1 Transportation of Mentally Ill or Alcohol-Dependent Persons Sec. 17-205a-1. Definitions As used in §§ 17-205a-1 to 17-205a-3, inclusive: (a) “Ambulance” means a motor vehicle specifically designed to carry patients which is in compliance with regulations adopted by the Department of Health Services, Office of Emergency Medical Services; (b) “Department” means the Department of Mental Health, 90 Washington Street, Hartford, Connecticut 06115; (c) “Expenses” means the allowable and reasonable costs incurred in the transportation of patients under these regulations as determined by appropriate state and/or federal agencies; (d) “Emergency certificate” means a certificate signed by a physician under § 17-183 of the general statutes or a certificate signed by an eligible person under § 17-155x of the general statutes; (e) “Invalid coach” means a vehicle used exclusively for the transportation of non- ambulatory patients to or from a medical facility or the patient’s home in non-emergency situations or utilized in emergency situations as a backup vehicle when insufficient emergency vehicles exist; (f) “Licensed public treatment facility” means a treatment agency operating under the direction and control of the department, or providing treatment under chapter 304c through a contract with the department under subsection (f) of section 17-155q, and meeting the standards prescribed in and licensed under the provisions of section 17-227; (g) “Necessary” means the authorities at the sending facility have determined that such transportation is needed or, in the case of voluntary patients, the patient has requested such transportation (verification of necessity by the receiving facility may be required by the department); (h) “Provide” means any person, corporation or organization which provides transportation to persons requiring it under section 17-205a and includes any person, corporation or organization which provides payment to the transporter in expectation or reimbursement from the patient; (i) “State-operated facility” means those hospitals or other facilities providing treatment for mentally disordered adults which are operated in whole or in part by the Department of Mental Health. Such facilities include, but are not limited to, Connecticut Valley Hospital, Norwich Hospital, Fairfield Hills Hospital, the Connecticut Mental Health Center, the Whiting Forensic Institute, Blue Hills Hospital, Ribicoff Research Center, the DuBois Day Treatment Center, Cedarcrest Regional Hospital, and the Bridgeport Mental Health Center, but shall not include those portions of such facilities transferred to the Department of Children and Youth Services for the purpose of consolidation of children’s services. (j) “Transportation” means transporting a person in an ambulance, an invalid coach or other suitable mode of transportation; (k) “Voluntary patient” means any person who is a patient at a state-operated facility at - 1- Regulations of C onnecticut State Agencies TITLE 17. Public Assistance & Welfare Services Revised: 2015-3-6 D epartm ent of M ental H ealth R.C.S.A. §§ 17-205a-1—17-205a-3 §17-205a-2 his own request; any person who wishes emergency treatment for conditions defined in § 17-183 of a state-operated facility; or any person subject to a commitment order under this chapter who has left the state-operated facility without permission and wishes to return. (Effective June 25, 1979) Sec. 17-205a-2. Payment of transportation expenses (a) Upon receipt of a bill from any provider of transportation to any qualified person under § 17-205a (b) and this regulation, the department shall request that the Department of Administrative Services conduct an investigation to determine if such person is able to pay for the service provided. The department shall pay the expenses of the transportation, provided: (1) The transportation was necessary. A. Proof of necessity shall be: 1. In the case of a person transported under an emergency certificate, the person signing the emergency certificate shall certify that the transportation was necessary. 2. In the case of voluntary patients or patients on leave, the provider shall certify that the patient requested the transportation. The receiving facility may be requested to verify that the transportation was necessary, considering the patient’s circumstances at the time of the request for transportation. (2) In the case of a person transported under subdivision (1) of (§ 17-205a (b)), the transportation was from a state-aided, town-aided or other municipal-aided hospital to a state-operated facility. A. Information as to the origin and destination must be stated on Form MHCC-15, Transportation Authorization/Certification, submitted with the provider’s bill. (3) In the case of persons transported under subdivisions (2) (voluntary patients) and (4) (patients on leave) of § 17-205a (b), the destination was a state-operated facility. (4) In the case of persons transported under subdivision (3) (alcohol patients) of § 17- 205a (b), the destination was a licensed public treatment facility. A. In the case of a person transported under the authority of § 17-155x, the provider must submit on Form MHCC-15, Transportation Authorization/Certification, the signature of the person signing the emergency certificate, certifying that transportation is necessary. (5) The transportation was for one of the reasons enumerated in § 17-205a (b). A. The reason for the transportation must be stated on Form MHCC-15, Transportation Authorization/Certification, which must be submitted with the provider’s bill for services rendered. (6) The Department of Administration Services has not determined through its investigation that the person transported is able to pay the expenses of his or her transportation. A. The department may pay bills submitted pending the outcome of the investigation. If the investigation shows the person is able to pay, the provider shall be required to return any payment made on that person’s behalf by the department, or, in the alternative, that payment will be applied to subsequent bills. - 2- Regulations of C onnecticut State Agencies TITLE 17. Public Assistance & Welfare Services Revised: 2015-3-6 D epartm ent of M ental H ealth R.C.S.A. §§ 17-205a-1—17-205a-3 §17-205a-3 (7) The bill is presented to the department prior to the expiration of one year since the date of the delivery of service. A. Any partial payment received from any source (patient, third party, Medicare, etc.) must be indicated on the provider’s bill which is presented to the department. (1) The department shall pay only for what it is otherwise liable and which the patient is unable to pay. B. Providers must return any payment made by the department where payment has been obtained from any other source, either prior to or subsequent to payment by the department. (Effective June 25, 1979) Sec. 17-205a-3. Least expensive transportation; transporting two or more persons (a) Transportation shall be by method which is (1) the least expensive alternative and (2) provides the necessary safeguards to insure the person is properly treated during the transportation. If the sending authority determines that an invalid coach is sufficient and asks that such a vehicle be sent, charges for an ambulance will not be allowed. (b) If more than one person is transported in the same vehicle at the same time, only one mileage charge will be paid. (Effective June 25, 1979) - 3- Regulations of C onnecticut State Agencies TITLE 17. Public Assistance & Welfare Services