Frequently Asked Questions
General
CAPS Questions:
I've never been to CAPS. How do
I access services?
What types of services are offered at
CAPS?
How much does it cost to be seen at CAPS?
Can I use my health insurance to cover CAPS visits?
Where is CAPS located?
What are the hours of operation for CAPS?
When can I come in for CAPS Triage?
Psychiatric Medication Questions
Can I get psychiatric medications at CAPS?
What if I am already on a psychotropic
medication prescribed by my doctor at home?
Can I get tested for ADD/ADHD at CAPS?
How do I get refills for medication
previously prescribed at CAPS?
What if I can't afford my prescription medication?
I've never been to CAPS. How
do I access services?
The first visit to CAPS does not require an
appointment. You can walk in during Triage hours (see ”hours of
operation”) and on a first-come, first-served basis and/or meet with one
of the Triage counselors to briefly discuss the nature of your concern. The triage counselor will assist you in
looking at alternatives about the next step in your care. If your need
will be best met at CAPS, a follow–up appointment will be set up with a CAPS provider. If a referral for more extensive treatment
off-campus, or another sort of assistance is indicated, the Triage
counselor will help direct you to those services.
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What types of services are offered
at CAPS?
CAPS offers focused therapy to individuals and
couples who are currently enrolled as UA students.
For couples’ counseling, both members of the
couple are required to be enrolled UA students. In addition, group services and classes are offered on a variety of topics. See Other Services
& Classes.
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How much does it cost to be seen at CAPS?
There
is a nominal fee for the initial triage session. There are moderate
charges for follow-up counseling visits, medication evaluations, groups
and other services at CAPS. A complete fee schedule for this academic
year is available at the CAPS reception desk. Students who have the
major medical student plan and students with Campus Care receive
reduced fees for many services.
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Can I use my health insurance to pay for CAPS visits?
The only health insurance plans accepted for CAPS visits are the major
medical student plan or Campus Care. At their discretion, students are
free to attain receipts for their visits to CAPS and submit them to
their personal health insurance plan for reimbursement.
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Where is CAPS located?
CAPS
is located on the SE corner of the 3rd floor of the Campus Health
Service building in the Highland Commons. The Highland Commons is
located between Park and Highland on the north side of 6th Street.
Convenient parking is located in the Sixth Street Parking Garage just
west of the Campus Health Service building.
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What are the hours of operation for
CAPS?
CAPS is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and
Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Wednesday,
CAPS is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Some
provider appointments are scheduled at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday mornings.
Due to the building having an automatic locking/unlocking system on the
outside doors, students with this appointment time are asked to knock
on the door for admittance.
You
may gain admittance to CAPS by using the DRC (Disability Resources
Center) elevator on the east side of the building. Come to the third
floor, and enter CAPS by using the door in the lobby just past the
restrooms.
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When can I come in for CAPS Triage?
CAPS offers both morning and afternoon Triage walk-in hours,
daily, Monday through Friday. Students are seen on a first-come, first-served basis. CAPS
Triage hours are:
Summer Hours: 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday
Fall-Spring Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Monday through Fridays during the academic year.
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Can I get psychiatric medications at CAPS?
CAPS has limited psychiatric medication
services available. Depending on your medication management
needs, you may be able to obtain prescriptions for psychotropic
medications at CHS/CAPS or you may be referred to an off-campus
psychiatrist.
Before
coming to CAPS, be sure to get additional presriptions from your doctor
at home. We suggest that you bring at least one month's supply with you
to Tucson. Your doctor from home may refer you to a physician in Tucson
to take over prescribing and monitoring your medications. If so, make
the appointment with that doctor as soon as possible, since it may take
several weeks for an initial appointment with a new physician.
If you are seeking medication management through CAPS, your evaluation with the CAPS psychiatrist will
be expedited if you have a copy of your prior doctor’s records or letter regarding your treatment and his/her recommendations
regarding dosage and showing six months of stability on your medications. Bring in a copy of those records or arrange for your doctor
to mail or FAX them to CAPS before your appointment. If you do not bring these records with you,
you may bring in your previous prescribing physician’s name, address,
FAX and phone number, and we can FAX your signed Release of Information
Form to that office in order to obtain your records prior to your
appointment.
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How do I get refills for medication previously prescribed at CAPS?
After
you have seen a CAPS psychiatrist for a medical evaluation and been
prescribed psychotropic medication, you will be asked to come in at
certain intervals for brief "medication checks" and/or prescription
renewals. These "med-check" appointments are generally made by calling
the CAPS secretary at 621-3334.
Because
there is an extremely high demand for these appointments, and it could
take some time to get an appointment at a time that works for you, we
suggest that you:
*Call
621-3334
at least two weeks before you run out of medication for best
appointment availability. We take calls starting at 8:00 a.m. every day, Monday
through Friday, with the exception of Wednesday. We begin taking calls at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesdays. We will do our best to find a time that fits your schedule
conveniently.
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Can I get tested or treated for ADD/ADHD at CAPS?
CAPS/CHS providers may write
prescriptions for patients
who are stablized on their ADD/ADHD medications. Patients are required
to go through CAPS triage and present their test results, including the
conclusion portion of their testing, six months of clinical notes from
their previous provider indicating that they are stabilized on their
medications and the dosages of their most recent prescriptions. Please do not just bring an empty prescription bottle. If a CAPS triage counselor recommends that you be seen for medication management at CAPS, an evaluation appointment will be scheduled for you.
If you have not been previously evaluated for ADD/ADHD, but think you
may have this problem, the Disability Resource Center (DRC) located on
the second floor of Highland Commons can direct you to community
providers who will do testing and provide documentation for ADD/ADHD
and other learning disabilities. There is more information on the DRC website at http://drc.arizona.edu/drc/diagnostic-services.html. For more information about ADD/ADHD: CAPS ADD/ADHD FAQ's
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What if I can't afford my prescription medication?
The
Campus Health Service is sensitive to the needs of some patients
who simply cannot afford certain critical medications. Some pharmaceutical
companies offer Patient Assistance Programs that
can enable you to obtain certain name brand medications at little
or no cost, if you do not currently have a prescription benefit
included as a part of your health insurance and if you meet the
other requirements. Note that not everyone will qualify for these
programs, even if you believe you have a legitimate financial need.
Each
of the pharmaceutical manufacturers that offer Patient Assistance
Programs may have very different criteria for participation.
Certain clinical parameters, as well as financial parameters will
apply in determining eligibility.
If
you think you may be eligible for one of these prescription medication Patient Assistance Programs, talk with your Campus
Health provider. If they think you are a candidate, they will give
you the information, including directions on what to do to apply.
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