Agenda - 12-15-2009 - 3b - Laserfiche WebLink

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44 MENTAL HEALTH TASK FORCE REPORT cases the reimbursement rates for services will be reduced as well. In addition, providers of Community Support services will have to decide which, if any, services they will provide instead, as this service will be reduced significantly over the coming months and will no longer be available as of June 30, 2010. These changes will require providers to make changes in both staff and the amount of service they are able to provide. It is anticipated that providers will have to implement a variety of cost saving measures over the coming months. • How will the OPC benefit plan be amended? In anticipation of budget cuts, changes were made to the OPC IPRS benefit plans reducing outpatient services effective 7/1/2009: • Adult MH basic benefits were reduced from 26 to 8 individual sessions (69% cut) and from 52 to 12 group sessions (77% cut) for each consumer for the fiscal year. • Adult SA benefits were reduced from 26 individual sessions to six (76% cut) and from 52 to 24 group sessions (54% cut) per fiscal year. • All adults must meet much more restrictive criteria to qualify for CSS and the units have been reduced. Many individuals who might have qualified for this service in the past no longer do so. This has resulted in a drop from 344 consumers having been authorized for this service last fiscal year to 105 at present, a 69% decrease. • An exception to cuts in the Adult SA benefit plan is for consumers referred by TASC (Treatment Accountability for Safer Communities). Services for this population have not been reduced. • Child MH benefit benefits were reduced from weekly individual and group therapy to no more than 26 sessions per year of each of those services, a 50% cut. • CS Support for children is somewhat more restrictive; now only those children who are at risk of imminent out of home placement qualify for the larger amount of units. • No significant changes were made to the Child SA Benefit Plan. • All other services such as Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR), residential, etc, have suffered de facto reductions as a result of fewer funds being allocated to the providers of these services. • All providers are encouraged to link consumers with natural and community resources early in treatment, to develop solid crisis plans with each consumer and to inform consumers of the process for accessing crisis services. • What is OPC Area Program doing to manage these changes and cuts? OPC staff is meeting on a regular basis to plan and prepare for the budget reductions. Workgroups are developing strategies to address both short-term and long-term issues. Benefit plans have been revised (see above.) OPC staff is meeting with key providers on a regular basis to address issues of concern, service system changes, etc. OPC wilt also be updating our community partners, stakeholders, CFAC, OPC Area Board and providers at meetings attended, via email communication, and on our website as developments occur over the coming weeks. • What crisis services will be available? Crisis services will remain available in all three counties in a variety of means. Daytime weekday crisis services are available to residents of each county at the following sites: 42