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May 3, 2018

Advancing Public Policies for People with Mental Illness, Chemical Dependency or Developmental Disabilities   

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Francine Sinkoff, Editor
fs@clmhd.org
AG Schneiderman launches new website to help New Yorkers safely dispose of unused opioids

Governor Cuomo Announces Raise the Age Implementation Task Force

Governor Cuomo Launches Third Phase of $20 Billion Plan to Combat Homelessness

Story of hope from the Albany County Jail

Seeing results: Implementing DSRIP program has benefited north country

Jail Latest To Test Medication For Opioid Addiction - Chautauqua County

Broome DA gives $281K from drug dealers to treatment and police agencies

Drug Detox Center in Binghamton Brings Lifesaving Services to Central NY

Tompkins County prepares for age limits for jail, prison sentences

Naloxone Not As Readily Available in Suffolk County Pharmacies As NY Says
Improving the Health Homes Model

The state's six-year-old Health Homes
initiative, which offers health care coordination services to certain eligible Medicaid enrollees with complex needs, is serving more than 176,000 enrollees a year at an annual cost of more than $550 million. But the program, established under the Affordable Care Act, could be serving more patients in a more efficient manner, concluded  a discussion paper
produced by the Citizens Budget Commission with support from the New York Community Trust.

Current enrollment falls short of the initial target of 240,000 people, the CBC report said. But the program leads to better outcomes and long-term cost savings for many patients with complex conditions.

The biggest challenge is to identify which types of patients could benefit most from the program. The CBC said that "little has been learned about whether such targets are appropriate based on evidence about the differential cost-effectiveness of the program for diverse subgroups."

Recommendations for improving Health Homes included better targeting of priority subpopulations, improving ties between the initiative and managed-care organizations, and putting more emphasis on specialized Health Homes, such as those for children. -- Crain's Health Pulse







In monkeys, researchers find possible biological marker of autism

Communication Issues Among Kids With Autism May Lead to Self-Harm
MCTAC In-Person Training: New Children's Health and Behavioral Health State Plan Services

Target Audience: Providers, serving individuals under 21, who are designated to provide or plan to provide New Children's Health and Behavioral Health State Plan Services (SPA Services). 
 
These full day in-person trainings will review the updated Children's System implementation timeline and new state plan services. The training will provide an in-depth review of the following state plan services: Other Licensed Practitioner (OLP), Community Psychiatric Supports and Treatment (CPST), Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR), Family Peer Support Services (FPSS). Topics include service overview, billing, and credentialing rules with a focus on next steps and implementation strategies.  Register now!
UPCOMING TRAININGS

Ask Me Anything Series - 02: Ask the NY Peer Specialist Certification Board
May 7, 3 pm, Academy of Peer Services

Considerations for Placement in Recovery Housing for Individuals Living with Severe Mental Illness
May 8, 1:30 - 2:30 pm, SAMHSA

Supervising Peer Support Staff: What does it take?
May 9, 12 - 1 pm

Supporting Evidence-Based and Promising Practices - Trauma-Informed CBT
May 9, 3 - 4 pm

Innovative and Integrated Treatment Models: Increasing Impact of Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs) through Care Coordination
May 10, 1 - 2 pm, National Council for Behavioral Health

Addressing Emergency Department Psychiatric Boarding: A Continuum of Solutions
May 15, 12 - 1 pm

Exploring the Impact of Trauma on Parenting
May 15, 12 - 1 pm, CTAC

How Community-Based Behavioral Health Treatment Providers Can Develop and Implement Collaborative Comprehensive Case Plans
May 15, 2 - 3:30 pm, National Reentry Resource Center

Person-Centered and Collaborative: New Safety Assessment for Suicide Prevention
May 16, 1 - 2 pm, National Council for Behavioral Health

Avoiding Burnout: Learning To Live & Work Well In Health Care
May 17, 12 - 1 pm, PsychU

Evaluation of Data Collection with Rochester Regional Health
May 18, 12 - 1 pm, CTAC

Addressing Behavioral Health Needs of Older Veterans: In our Communities and in Partnership
May 22, 12 - 1 pm

Social Media/Technology for Outreach and Engagement
May 23, 1 - 2 pm, SAMHSA

Redefining Care Management in Medicaid Managed Care
May 24, 3 - 4 pm, Manatt Health

Getting to the Heart of Motivational Interviewing
May 30, 12 - 1 pm, CTAC

How Media & Movies Shape Our Perception Of Serious Mental Illness
May 31, 12 - 1 pm, PsychU

The Interplay Between Sleep & Bipolar Disorder
June 5, 12 - 1 pm, PsychU

June 6, 12 - 1 pm

Understanding the complex lives and needs of people with co-occurring mental illness and I/DD
June 12, 12 - 1 pm

June 12, 3 - 4 pm, Manatt Health

 
CALENDAR OF EVENTS

MAY 2018

Children & Families Committee Meeting
May 15: 11:30 am - 1 pm, GTM

Mental Hygiene Planning Committee Meeting
May 15: 1 - 2:30 pm, GTM

Developmental Disabilities Committee Meeting 
May 17: 1 - 2:30 pm, GTM

Agency Meeting: NYS OASAS
May 23: 10 am - 12 pm
1450 Western Ave., Albany

Agency Meeting: NYS OMH
May 23: 1 - 3 pm
44 Holland Ave., Albany

Office Closed: Memorial Day
May 28


JUNE 2018

Officers, Chairs & Regional Reps Call
June 6: 8 am

Children & Families Committee Meeting
June 19: 11:30 am - 1 pm, GTM

Directors/Executive Committee Meeting
June 20: 9:30 am - 12:30 pm, GTM

Mental Hygiene Planning Committee Meeting
June 26: 1 - 2:30 pm, GTM


Contact CLMHD for all Call In and Go To Meeting information, 518.462.9422 
CLMHD Holds Annual Spring Full Membership Meeting in Saratoga

The Conference recently held its Annual Spring Full Membership Meeting on April 30 - Mat 1, 2018. Directors of Community Services (DCSs) from across the state convened at the Holiday Inn in Saratoga Springs to network and exchange ideas and best practices with their colleagues.

On Monday morning, the Conference was pleased to welcome Megan Woodward, LMHC, MBA, Behavioral Health Products Director for Fidelis Care, and Jennifer Earl, MA, LMHC,  Government Liaison for  United Healthcare Community Plan. DCSs participated in meaningful dialogue with our speakers about how the Local Governmental Unit (LGU), with its cross-system expertise and community linkages,  can work collaboratively with Managed Care Organizations as New York's health care system continues to move toward a Value Based future.

Megan Woodward, LMHC, MBA, Fidelis Care

In the afternoon, members participated in the Conference's business meeting, which began with election of CLMHD officers for 2018-2020. Congratulations to the following DCSs:
  • Chair: Joseph Todora, LMSW, MSW, Sullivan County
  • First-Vice Chair: Katherine Alonge-Coons, LCSW-R, Rensselaer County
  • Second-Vice Chair: Laura Kelemen, LCSW-R, Niagara County
  • Secretary: Darcie Miller, LCSW-R, Orange County
  • Treasurer: Brian Hart, LCSW-R, Chemung County 
The election was then followed by reports from Executive Director Kelly Hansen, Counsel Jed Wolkenbreit, RPC Project Director Donna DeWan,  as well as progress updates from CLMHD's Strategic Planning Goal Work Groups. 

On Tuesday, DCSs from Central New York gathered as a panel to discuss the progress of their region's 24/7 Regional Crisis Center for Addictions, a project proposed by the six Central New York DCSs, and partially funded by NYS OASAS. The center, which opened in Fall 2017, is located in Onondaga County and serves residents of Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, and Oswego Counties. Next, DCS Tom Quinn, PhD, LCSW-R, provided an update on Dutchess County's Stabilization Center, which included summarized data from collected from the program's first year of service. 

Tom Quinn, PhD, LCSW-R, Dutchess County

The day concluded with presentations from representatives of the three state disability agencies.  Many thanks to Sean M. Byrne, Executive Deputy Commissioner, NYS OASAS; Acting Commissioner Kerry Delaney, NYS OPWDD; and Christopher Tavella , PhD, Executive Deputy Commissioner, NYS OMH, for their participation.

Christopher Tavella, PhD, NYS OMH

Sean M. Byrne, NYS OASAS

Kerry Delaney, NYS OPWDD
New Fact Sheets About 42 CFR Part 2: Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Records

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, in collaboration with SAMHSA, has released two new fact sheets about the federal statute, 42 CFR Part 2 Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records (Part 2). The fact sheets were developed to help health information exchange (HIE) organizations and healthcare providers learn how Part 2 provisions can be used across different environments, including through electronic HIE mechanisms and in provider office settings. The new titles include:
Manatt Health: Leveraging Medicaid Managed Care to Advance Value-Based Payment

As healthcare costs continue to rise and stakeholders maintain focus on improving quality of care and outcomes, payors for healthcare services are turning to value-based payment (VBP) as one tool to inject greater value into the delivery of care. Medicaid, the nation's largest health insurer, is no exception. Across the country, state Medicaid agencies are looking to increase provider accountability for cost and quality of care, and many are leveraging their Medicaid managed care programs in new ways toward that end.

Most of the 39 states with comprehensive, risk-based managed care use their contracts with managed care plans to advance payment reforms, increase the proportion of plan payments that are value-based, or enhance the level of risk being assumed by providers.

A Manatt Health review of 39 states' Medicaid managed care contracts and related sources found that 28 states require plans to engage in VBP with network providers; two other states explicitly encourage or otherwise incentivize plans to engage in VBP. Read more here.
New York Seeks Input for NYS Prevention Agenda

New York will be  updating its Prevention Agenda for 2019 - 2024. The current Prevention Agenda covers the time span 2013 - 2018, with the goal of improving health  and reducing health disparities through an increased emphasis on prevention.  The update will incorporate demographic and health status changes, as  progress on current Prevention Agenda objectives. They also want to  incorporate social determinants of health, and strengthening local action. 

The  New York Department of Health has posted a slide deck describing the  proposed update, and is asking for public feedback via a  questionnaire which is available on the department  web site. They are also asking stakeholders to participate in priority-specific
planning to develop updated plans. More information can be found here.
SAMHSA Announces the Availability of up to $37.5 Million for the Tribal Behavioral Health Grant Program

Application Due Date: Monday, June 22, 2018

SAMHSA is accepting applications for the Tribal Behavioral Health Grant Program (Short Title: Native Connections) totaling up to $37.5 million over the next 5 years. The program aims to help American Indian/Alaska Native youth through the age of 24 years by:
  • Preventing and reducing suicidal behavior and substance use
  • Reducing the impact of trauma
  • Promoting mental health
Read more here.
Social Determinants of Health Innovation Application Now Available

The New York State Department of Health (DOH), Office of Health Insurance Programs (OHIP), Bureau of Social Determinants of Health, is launching a new initiative to identify innovative ideas to effectively address the Social Determinants of Health (SDH) for Medicaid members across New York State. The intent of this 'Call for SDH Innovations' is to solicit input from interested parties across the state and around the country. Innovations will be reviewed by a team of healthcare experts identified by DOH. Top innovations will receive special recognition but all innovations, with the consent of the submitting organization, will be shared publicly by DOH.  
 
Later this fall, the Department of Health will host a Social Determinants of Health Innovation Summit that will allow the applicants with the best solutions to pitch their product or idea to a panel of expert judges and audience members. While there is no funding from the State available for this initiative, it is a chance for innovative companies and organizations to receive exposure to key healthcare decision makers including, but not limited to, healthcare providers, Managed Care Organizations, and DSRIP Performing Provider Systems.
 
Innovations are due by June 15, 2018 at 5:00 PM. The Call for Social Determinants of Health Innovation application is now available here.
Prioritizing Social Determinants of Health in Medicaid ACO Programs: A Conversation with Two Pioneering States

There is increasing recognition that medical care is only one of several factors affecting health outcomes. In February, a  national CHCS webinar, explored early state approaches for using Medicaid accountable care organizations (ACOs) to address social determinants of health (SDOH) as a way to improve health outcomes and contribute to potential savings. The webinar zeroed in on two state Medicaid ACO programs that prioritize SDOH:  Minnesota's Integrated Health Partnerships (IHPs) and  Rhode Island's Accountable Entities (AEs).

CHCS recently spoke with Mat Spaan, Manager, Care Delivery and Payment Reform, Minnesota Department of Human Services; Deborah Faulkner, President, Faulkner Consulting Group; and Deborah Morales, Senior Consulting Manager, Conduent at Rhode Island Executive Office of Health & Human Services to follow-up on key questions raised during the webinar. Read more here.
The Conference of Local Mental Hygiene Directors advances public policies and awareness for people with mental illness, chemical dependency and developmental disabilities.  We are a statewide membership organization that consists of the Commissioner/ Director of each of the state's 57 county mental hygiene departments and the mental hygiene department of the City of New York.

Affiliated