CARE Act Resource Center: You can find helpful information about the CARE Act itself, including the court process, at https://care-act.org/
Referral (Optional)
Starts when a county receives a system referral.
Steps to take when you receive a CARE Act System Referral:
- Check to see if the individual is a client. If they aren’t, create them as a client in SmartCare using the Inquiry process.
- Enroll the client in the CARE Act program. You will use this program for all CARE Act related documents and services for this client.
- Scan/upload the CARE Act System Referral to the client’s chart. Use “Client (Medical Records)” with Record Type = “CARE Act System Referral (scanned)”.
- Create a CARE Episode document to record the referral information.
- Document all activities in the CARE Act program using the appropriate CARE Act Activity procedure codes.
- Complete state reporting requirements.
Steps to take when you determine the referred client should be petitioned:
- Complete the petition form (CARE 100), which can be found on the State’s website, and submit per your county’s process.
- Upload the petition to the client’s chart in SmartCare. Use “Client (Medical Records)” with Record Type = “CARE Act Petition (scanned)”.
- Continue to document all activities in the CARE Act program using the appropriate CARE Act Activity procedure codes.
- Continue to complete state reporting requirements.
Initiation Period
Starts when the petition is filed.
Steps to take when you receive a CARE Act Petition:
- Check to see if the individual is a client. If they aren’t, create them as a client in SmartCare using the Inquiry process.
- Enroll the client in the CARE Act program, if not already done so. You will use this program for all CARE Act related documents and services for this client.
- Scan/upload the petition to the client’s chart in SmartCare. Use “Client (Medical Records)” with Record Type = “CARE Act Petition (scanned)”.
- Create a CARE Episode document to record the petition information.
- Document all activities in the CARE Act program using the appropriate CARE Act Activity procedure codes.
- Complete state reporting requirements.
Active Period
Starts when the client engages in an Active CARE Agreement OR the court creates a CARE Plan.
Once the client is in the CARE Process, meaning attending court, the CARE Act Team will continue to document all activities in the CARE Act program using the appropriate CARE Act Activity procedure codes, as well as completing monthly CARE Act Reporting Documents.
Follow-Up Period
Starts when the client exits the CARE process.
When the client exits the CARE Process, meaning no longer attending court, the CARE Act Team will continue to document all activities in the CARE Act program using the appropriate CARE Act Activity procedure codes, as well as completing monthly CARE Act Reporting Documents.
Discharge/Closure
When the client has fully exited from CARE Act, meaning that all follow-up period reports have been completed, then you can discharge the client from the CARE Act Program. The CARE Episode should automatically close when a CARE Act Reporting Document with an appropriate closure status is created and signed.
Steps to take to close a person from the CARE Act:
- Make sure all documents and state reports have been completed and signed.
- Discharge them from the CARE Act Program.