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Children’s rehabilitative services (CRS)

The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) Division of Member Services (DMS) assigns a CRS designation to children with certain health conditions. These children and youth can get the same AHCCCS-covered care and services as those who don’t have the CRS designation.

Who qualifies for CRS

Who qualifies for CRS

To qualify, children or youth must:

  • Have a CRS diagnosis
  • Be a U.S. citizen or qualified resident
  • Live in Arizona
  • Be an AHCCCS member
  • Be under age 21 at the time they first enroll
  • Require multispecialty physician services

How to apply

Anyone can fill out a CRS application. This includes family members, doctors or health plan staff. Learn how to apply at the AHCCCS CRS page.

Need help? Just call us at ${MS_phone_1} or ${MS_phone_2} (TTY 711). We can connect you with the Mercy Care CRS Liaison for help with application questions. 

 

Roles and next steps

After someone submits a CRS application, each group has some next steps:

AHCCCS DMS decides on each application within 14 days. If they approve, AHCCCS DMS lets your health plan know. They’ll send a letter of acceptance to the:

  • Child’s parents or guardian
  • Child’s health plan
  • Person who applied for CRS 

We’ll contact the child’s parents or guardians to:

  • Provide a warm welcome and answer any questions
  • Help make appointments within the first 30 days in the CRS program
  • Enroll the child in care management to provide ongoing support for them, as well as guardians, caregivers and providers 
  • Help connect children and families with member advocates/liaisons

We’ll also send the initial service plan (ISP) to the multispecialty interdisciplinary clinic (MSIC) in your geographic area. 

Next, the multispecialty interdisciplinary clinic (MSIC) or health home:

  • Sends a welcome letter  
  • Makes an initial comprehensive assessment appointment — a meeting with the family to get to know them and to see what needs they have 
  • Works with children, youth, parents or guardians to make a treatment/service plan — a complete plan includes all the family’s services and goals
  • Helps coordinate ongoing health care services

Care and services

We screen, evaluate and provide medical treatment and rehabilitation for children with a CRS designation. We also help coordinate care and monitoring to make sure providers meet special health care needs. 

We use a team approach to provide care. Who's on the team depends on the child’s special health care needs. Get to know your team so you can talk with them about your care and services. Health providers on your team could be: 
 
Surgeons

  • Cardiovascular and thoracic surgeons
  • General pediatric surgeons
  • Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) surgeons
  • Neurosurgeons
  • Ophthalmology surgeons
  • Orthopedic surgeons (general, hand, scoliosis, amputee)
  • Plastic surgeons

Medical specialists

  • Cardiologists
  • Neurologists
  • Rheumatologists
  • General pediatricians
  • Geneticists
  • Urologists
  • Primary care physician (PCP)

Behavioral health care providers and services

  • Psychiatrists
  • Psychologists
  • Residential care facilities
  • Peer support
  • Crisis services
  • Inpatient services
  • Counseling (individual, family, group)
  • Child and Family Team (CFT)
  • Behavioral health day program
  • Community mental health centers
  • Treatment for substance use disorders (assessment, counseling and medication-assisted treatment, or MAT)

Dental providers

  • Dentists
  • Orthodontists
  • Dental hygienists

You can invite others to be on the team. Talk with the specialty clinic nurse to find out how to invite someone to be on the team.

Children can get health care and support services from providers in a statewide network:

  • In field clinics, where providers travel to an identified area of the state to provide services
  • In multispecialty interdisciplinary clinics (MSICs)
  • With telemedicine/telehealth

Clinics or nearby communities have pharmacies, labs and diagnostic services for members.

Find a provider

What MSICs do

MSICs bring specialty providers together in one place. This is the assigned health home. It’s one place children and families can:

  • Meet face-to-face with the care team to get medical and behavioral health care
  • See all of their medical specialists, often in one appointment
  • Take part in the community
  • Receive support services
  • Be part of making a care plan 

MSICs are here for you 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. You’ll get a welcome call to tell you more about CRS benefits. You can also get help making the first appointment.

We assign your MSIC based on your address. Already have a primary specialist in your community? No problem. You can stay where you’re already getting care. Just be sure your provider is in our network. Here is the contact info for the 4 MSICs in the state of Arizona:

DMG Children’s Rehabilitative Services 
3141 North 3rd Ave. 
Phoenix, AZ 85013 
602-914-1520 
1-855-598-1871 
 

Children’s Clinics 
Square & Compass Building 
2600 North Wyatt Dr. 
Tucson, AZ 85712 
520-324-5437 
1-800-231-8261 
 

Children’s Rehabilitative Services 
1200 North Beaver St. 
Flagstaff, AZ 86001 
928-773-2054 
1-800-232-1018
 

Children’s Rehabilitative Services 
Tuscany Medical Plaza 
2851 South Ave. B 
Building 25 #2504 
Yuma, AZ 85364 
928-336-7095 
1-800-837-7309 

When CRS designation ends

Enrolled children or youth lose the CRS designation the month of their 21st birthday. But providers and care won’t change. We’ll still be the AHCCCS plan for all your health care needs. 

AHCCCS DMS may also end a CRS designation when children or youth:

  • Lose Title 19/21 enrollment
  • No longer meet the medical criteria for CRS
  • Complete treatment for the CRS condition

Questions about CRS benefits? Call us at ${MS_phone_1} or ${MS_phone_2} (TTY 711). 

Questions?   

Call Member Services at ${MS_phone_1}or ${MS_phone_2} (TTY 711). We’re here for you ${member_services_hours}.