General FAQs
What if I’m not sure if I need to make an appointment?
Call 813.246.4899 and one of ACTS staff will help you determine level of care.
What should I expect when I enter or a family member enters ACTS for services?
While you or your family member is being cared for at ACTS, you or your family member will be seen by one of our many professionally qualified staff members. You will be assigned a case manager to help you navigate your care. The case manager will help you or your family member create a treatment or service plan, a discharge plan and ongoing recovery planning.
Will my case manager/therapist communicate with other providers or family members?
Individuals served at ACTS will be asked to sign a consent for release of information designating who may be contacted during treatment.
What should I bring to an overnight program?
Sleep clothes
A sweater
Under garments
Change of clothes
What is not allowed in facilities?
Electronic devices (cellphones, e-readers, ipads, etc.)
Products containing alcohol-based ingredients
Highly caffeinated products
Valuables
Tobacco products
What should I bring to my first appointment?
Photo ID
Social Security Number and Card
Insurance and card (if applicable)
List of medications (name, purpose, dosage, how often, prescriber)
Birth Certificate (if under age 18)
Emergency Contact Information
Primary Care Physician information
If you do not have insurance, we ask you bring proof of income in one of the following forms:
Most recent paycheck
Proof of family income
Social security/worker’s compensation letter
Other proof of third party payer.
Bringing in your proof of income allows our agency to assess you or your loved ones to be provided services on a sliding scale.
If you need help in acquiring any of the required documents, please contact the issuing facility for a replacement:
Social Security Card: http://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/
ID: http://www.flhsmv.gov/ddl/replace.html
What if I am deaf or hard of hearing or need special assistance?
Call 813.246.4899 and one of ACTS staff will ensure you have the services needed.
What is an assessment?
This is the first step towards improving your overall well-being. An assessment is an interview to determine what type of behavioral health services is most appropriate. The assessor will ask about current concerns as well as past medical and mental health history. If applicable, any drug and/or alcohol abuse will be assessed. Family members or a friend may be present during the assessment process, as this may be helpful for assistance and support. This assessment is used to determine which programs or services would be most beneficial. We offer inpatient, outpatient and partial programs. Once the assessment is complete, the assessor will consult with our multi-disciplinary team regarding the recommendation and then make a determination about treatment options.
How do I schedule an assessment?
Simply call us at 813.246.4899 for a confidential assessment. A clinician will take your call, ask a series of questions, and determine if a face-to-face assessment is the appropriate next step. Our goal is to schedule the assessment as soon as possible, and walk-in times are available.
Who is on the staff at ACTS?
ACTS staff consists of a Medical Director, a consulting psychiatrist, physical health doctors, therapists, case managers, nurses and behavioral health technicians. These team members work together to ensure every individual receives a high level of quality care throughout his/her time in our programs.
What is the detoxification environment like for patients?
We take great care to ensure our patients feel safe, comfortable and welcomed in our environment. We have thoughtfully designed our facility to be as therapeutic as possible with outdoor courtyards, leisure rooms and plenty of windows allowing the natural light to enter rooms.
How does someone access ACTS programs?
ACTS takes the mystery out of trying to find out how to get an assessment. Our staff are available to take your call, answer your questions and refer you for an assessment. Any person can call us and you do not need a formal outside referral to receive an assessment from our clinicians.
What is your treatment approach?
Each of ACTS programs utilizes Evidence Based Practices reflecting the needs of those served in the program. Our programs take a multidisciplinary team approach to ensure each person receives individualized quality care in a therapeutic environment. We understand behavioral health treatment is not a “one size fits all” and our team works with the patient and their families to work towards the best outcome.
How does ACTS serve different populations?
Our staff understands the diverse groups of people we serve come with special therapeutic considerations. The structure of our programs ensure individuals receive age-appropriate treatment related to individual therapy, group therapy, recreational therapy and medication management. Our programming is delivered separately between our adults and adolescent age groups.
How do I request my medical records or my child's records? Is there a fee?
The first step will be completing an “authorization for disclosure of protected health information” form. To receive your records, contact our Health Information Department (HIM) otherwise know as medical records at 813.246.4899 ext.248. A completed and signed authorization form is mandatory for all record releases, an incomplete or unsigned request will not be fulfilled. We offer the authorization form onlineform here so that it can be completed ahead of time. If requesting certain record services, such as transferring records to another provider covered by HIPAA clients may also mail or fax the form to the mailing address and/or fax number listed on the form. If you are having the records sent to another person, you will need to provide their name and contact information.
To cover the cost of copying and mailing, Florida State Law provides for a charge of $1.00 per page for the first 25 pages; and $0.25 (25 cents) for each page thereafter, plus postage. A medical record can often be hundreds of pages long, so knowing exactly what records you want will keep the cost down. The authorization form also will ask what specific information you would like to have copied. If you don’t know what records you want, the HIM professional can guide you to the proper documents.
What is HIPAA?
The Office for Civil Rights enforces the HIPAA Privacy Rule, which protects the privacy of individually identifiable health information; the HIPAA Security Rule, which sets national standards for the security of electronic protected health information; the HIPAA Breach Notification Rule, which requires covered entities and business associates to provide notification following a breach of unsecured protected health information; and the confidentiality provisions of the Patient Safety Rule, which protect identifiable information being used to analyze patient safety events and improve patient safety for more information please follow this link: HIPAA Home | HHS.gov
Program Specific FAQs
How do visiting hours work for the inpatient or residential programs?
Visiting hours are important because it helps us to keep structure. Those visitors who are on approved list will know which days and times they are able to visit. We typically do not allow more than two visitors at a time and also do not recommend bringing children.
Family FAQs
What happens when my family member is discharged?
Upon discharge, every patient is scheduled to meet with a provider in the community for a follow-up appointment. The provider in the community will receive a discharge summary outlining a treatment plan and any new medications.
What if my family member or friend doesn’t believe they need help?
This is a difficult question. Many times we recommend being as supportive as possible during this time. Offer to bring them in for an assessment. Help them make the call or see if they will call on their own. If you believe your loved one is in a potential life-threatening situation, please call 911 immediately.
Other FAQs
What if I am homeless and looking for housing?
The best place to start your search is to call Tampa Hillsborough Homeless Initiative at 813.223.6115 to be entered in our community’s Homeless Management Information System and start the process to determine housing that will best meet your needs.
What insurance do you accept?
Depending on the treatment you or your family member needs, the following insurances may be applied (co-payments, co-insurance and deductibles apply): Medicaid, Humana, Integral, Magellan, Prestige, United, Value Options, SFCCN, Staywell, Wellcare, Sunshine State, Aetna, Amerigroup, Betterhealth, Blue Cross Blue Shield.
What if I am unable to afford treatment?
ACTS applies a uniform fee schedule, including a sliding scale based on Federal poverty guidelines. Services are not refused to anyone based on inability to pay.
Employee FAQs
When can I change my benefits plan?
During open enrollment (which is held in December before the next plan year stars) or if there is a qualifying event (divorce, marriage, birth/adoption of child).
What do I do if I am injured on the job?
Inform your supervisor immediately and complete an Employee Action Checklist for injuries on the job. A copy of the checklist is located on site at each program.
How do I go to change my home address, phone number or emergency contact information?
You may update this information at anytime by accessing DATIS and following this steps:
E3 Login page > DATIS Homepage > My e3 > Account.
Where can I see all of the vacant positions within ACTS?
Please use the Join Our Team link at the top of this page, you will be redirected to DATIS. Follow these steps E3 Login page > DATIS Homepage > EXTERNAL LINKS > ACTS Employment opportunities.
For new hires, when does benefits become effective?
The first of the month after sixty (60) days from hire date.
For new hires, when does PTO start to accumulate?
PTO (paid time off) accrues after ninety (90) days of employment from hire date and will be reflected on the first pay check after the 90 day period.
Where do employees receive information on FMLA?
This information is available on site at each of the programs. Also you may access this information via the intranet following this steps:
Intranet homepage > Policies, Plans & Manuals > Human Resources > Personnel Policies Guidelines > Family and Medical Leave Act.
I am no longer an employee of ACTS. How can I obtain a copy of my W-2 form?
Employees have access to DATIS even after they are no longer an employee, therefore it is recommended that all staff retain their DATIS login information.
Where can employees get a verification of employment?
Employment verifications can be obtained from the Human Resources or Payroll Department.
What is a prenote?
A prenote designates a live check to ensure that the direct deposit information in DATIS is correct. This check is mailed to the address contained in DATIS.