Behavioral Health Information Notice 25-012: Facility Referrals to the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act Process provides guidance on how facilities can refer individuals to the CARE Act process. This includes the option for facilities to use a standardized referral form or to use an internally developed form (as long as it includes a minimum amount of information). While facilities are encouraged to use the DHCS form, county behavioral health (BH) agencies are required to accept referrals regardless of the form or manner in which they are submitted.
Each referral should include essential information to ensure a smooth handoff between facilities and county behavioral health agencies. This may include the individual’s name, date of birth, contact details, Medi-Cal Client Index Number (CIN), Social Security Number (if available), as well as the name of the behavioral health professional initiating the referral and the receiving county agency. Additionally, facilities should include the date of the referral, the start and end date of any involuntary hold, and relevant clinical or contextual information—such as the reason for hospitalization, client-specific needs, or support systems in place.
It is important that the referral comes from a licensed behavioral health professional or their designee who has been directly involved in the individual’s care during the involuntary hold. This person must also be able to attest that the individual is likely to meet the CARE Act eligibility criteria.
Along with this information, LPS-designated facilities must also include a copy of the patient’s Model of Care Coordination Plan.
For more information on the referral process, see the Referrals to CARE training. For more information for hospitals on petitioning to CARE, see the Role of Hospitals and Emergency Departments in Petitioning training.