Authorization for inpatient behavioral health admissions may be obtained by faxing pertinent clinical information to ABH Care Management Department at (850) 353-6041 or secure emailing the information to [email protected] by the first business day after admission. This information should include:

• Member demographic information
• Initial admission assessments and plan of care
• Involuntary commitment paperwork, if applicable
• The requesting facility phone, fax, and email information

ABH adheres to the following requirements for authorization request turn around times:

• Urgent concurrent – Within 2 calendar days
• Urgent pre-service – Within 2 calendar days
• Non-urgent pre-service – Within 5 calendar days
• Post-service – Within 7 calendar days

Authorization is not a guarantee of payment. Payment is dependent upon medical necessity for the level of care rendered, member benefit limitations, member eligibility at the time of service, and services being rendered by a provider who is registered with Florida Medicaid.