FAQS
FOR PATIENTS
- Guest Dosing
- Medical Records Request
- Medicaid
- Comments / Complaints / Suggestions
- Confidentiality & Privacy
CMS requires a written request, including the following information to arrange courtesy dosing at one of our clinics:
- Client name
- Signed release of information
- Opioid treatment medication and dose amount
- Privilege level
- Dates of courtesy dose (must include start and end dates)
When you arrive at a CMS clinic to courtesy dose, please bring your photo ID. You will be asked to show your ID when you check in at the front desk. If you are CMS client needing to courtesy dose, please speak with your counselor to make arrangements.
The fine print:
Please note that due to federal requirements, you cannot courtesy dose for more than 28 days.
Community Medical Services reserves the right to refuse courtesy dosing to any individual. Reasons for refusal include (but are not limited to) inappropriate behavior, presenting at the clinic impaired, providing false information, lack of picture ID, or inability to pay.
CMS Patients:
Please notify your treatment team at least 7 days in advance so they can assist with locating a clinic and coordinating the Guest Dosing.
If you are trying to request records from Community Medical Services, here’s how:
Requesting your own: As a client of CMS you are legally allowed to request your records at any time. Please fill out a formal Request for Treatment Records form and provide the filled out form to your clinic.
If you are requested your records to be provided to an outside agency you will need to provide a signed ROI for that agency.
Please keep in mind a request can take up to 5 business days, but we will do our best to get those fulfilled as soon as possible.
Understanding Medicaid Redetermination Requirements
In March 2020, due to COVID-19, states were able to pause redeterminations of Medicaid eligibility. In December 2022, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (CAA) stating that each state will begin resuming routine eligibility determinations in 2023.
What does this mean if you use your state’s Medicaid program? This is simply a “return to normal” operations for your state. Participants will not be automatically re-enrolled in Medicaid programs and are required to keep their contact information and other important personal details up-to-date with the state as the state requests it.
We’ve gotten questions from many of our clients, and therefore compiled some informational links for the states in which we operate. If you are unclear on where your state stands in this process, please click the link for your state below for more
Alaska Medicaid
Arizona Medicaid
Colorado Medicaid
Indiana Medicaid
Michigan Medicaid
Minnesota Medicaid
Montana Medicaid
North Dakota Medicaid
Ohio Medicaid
Texas Medicaid
Wisconsin Medicaid
For Arizona residents, please click here to learn more about Substance Abuse Block Grant funding.
To file a complaint or concern please contact the Client Ombudsman.
Phone: 480-977-1444
Email: CMSOmbudsman@CMSgiveshope.com
The mission of the client ombudsman is to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and responsiveness of Community Medical Services (CMS) by receiving complaints, investigating complaints and addressing those complaints with the client as well as the clinical staff. We provide an independent check to make sure administrative acts are addressed and corrected, while helping clients and medical staff to understand CMS policy, procedures, and statutes better.
The ombudsman will do everything they can to hear, understand, and resolve the client’s complaints. Their goal is to help prevent systemic concerns from happening again to another client and influence positive change with in the CMS system.
Confidentiality and 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.
Confidentiality and Privacy Practices StatementFOR OUTSIDE AGENCIES
If you are trying to request records from Community Medical Services, here’s how:
Agencies requesting records: If you are requesting records for a client please be sure to email your request to cmsrecordrequest@cmsgiveshope.com , or fax it to 480-781-4506.
Please make sure the clients Name, DOB & clinic are listed in your request in order for us to better assist you.
We will be unable to disclose records if the release/authorization does not meet HIPAA requirements as well as the even more stringent requirements of 42 CFR Part 2.
We understand that circumstances arise that you cannot make it to your “home” clinic to receive medication. Community Medical Services offers courtesy dosing to individuals enrolled in other opioid treatment programs who make arrangements ahead of time. A minimum of one-week notice is required to arrange courtesy dosing requests for CMS clients; emergency requests are handled on a case-by-case basis.
The cost for courtesy dosing at all CMS clinics is $20.
CMS requires a written request, including the following information to arrange courtesy dosing at one of our clinics:
- Client name
- Signed release of information
- Opioid treatment medication and dose amount
- Privilege level
- Dates of courtesy dose (must include start and end dates)
When you arrive at a CMS clinic to courtesy dose, please bring your photo ID. You will be asked to show your ID when you check in at the front desk. If you are CMS client needing to courtesy dose, please speak with your counselor to make arrangements.
The fine print:
Please note that due to federal requirements, you cannot courtesy dose for more than 28 days.
Community Medical Services reserves the right to refuse courtesy dosing to any individual. Reasons for refusal include (but are not limited to) inappropriate behavior, presenting at the clinic impaired, providing false information, lack of picture ID, or inability to pay.
If you are trying to coordinate care with Community Medical Services, here’s how:
Please reach out to your client’s clinic and let them know you are requesting a COC for your client. Please provide the first & last name, DOB, and clinic name or address.
If you need to transfer to another clinic, whether to a different CMS clinic or another opioid treatment program altogether, your counselor will facilitate this process. Arranging a transfer can take several days, so please notify your counselor as soon as you can.
If you are currently enrolled at another OTP and wish to transfer to CMS, contact the clinic and schedule an intake – it is important you tell them you are currently a client at another OTP and you want to transfer. CMS requires all transfers to provide a signed released of information to allow the exchange of medical records for coordination of care.