TAR Overview

Authorization requirements are applied to specific procedures and services according to State and Federal law. Certain procedures and services are subject to authorization by Medi-Cal field offices before reimbursement can be approved. All inpatient hospital stays require authorization.

Most providers request authorization using a Treatment Authorization Request (TAR) form (50-1).
Long Term Care and Subacute Care providers use the Long Term Care Treatment Authorization
Request (LTC TAR, form 20-1) to request authorization for their services. Inpatient providers use the
Request for Extension of Stay in Hospital (18-1).

The Field Offices process services on TARs submitted by the Medi-Cal Providers for Core Services and Regionalized Services throughout the state.

TAR reviews and decisions are conducted by trained medical professionals. After review the Medi-Cal field office returns the provider copy of the TAR to the provider.

(TARs) must be sent to the appropriate Medi-Cal field office. If a TAR is received in the wrong field office, it will be routed to the correct office or returned to the provider with instructions about where to send the TAR. TARs from out-of-state providers should be submitted to the San Francisco Field Office, regardless of the service requested.

The Medi-Cal consultant in the field office approves, modifies, defers (for more information) or denies each TAR, depending on Department of Health Services (DHS) policy. After review, the Medi-Cal field office returns the provider copy of the TAR to the provider.

To find the appropriate Medi-Cal field office to send a TAR.