MHA Behavioral Health Learning Series Navigates Challenges

The MHA is hosting a five-part webinar series to provide hospital staff with a deeper understanding of Michigan’s behavioral health system and the hospital’s role in connecting patients with care. These webinars are part of the MHA’s continued investment in behavioral health, a key priority in its strategic action plan and advocacy and policy efforts. The series will provide hospitals with strategies to navigate the current system, strengthen partnerships and identify innovative solutions for overcoming many challenges in management of patients with behavioral health needs.

The next webinar in the series is Wednesday, April 17 at 1 p.m.

April 17: Navigating Challenges

The webinar will address the dispute and resolution process and the voluntary and involuntary commitment process.

May 8: Innovative Strategies to Address the Behavioral Health Crisis in Michigan Hospitals – Part 1

Will offer innovative solutions that hospitals and health system partners across the state are using to manage and treat behavioral health patients.

June 12: Innovative Strategies to Address the Behavioral Health Crisis in Michigan Hospitals – Part 2

Will offer additional innovative solutions that hospitals and health system partners across the state are using to manage and treat behavioral health patients.

Registration is free and open to MHA-members only. The series will be relevant to any employee working closely with behavioral health patients who are part of the CMH/PIHP contracting process or work with community organizations to support patient’s behavioral health needs at the time of discharge.

Members with questions on the webinar series may contact Kelsey Ostergren at the MHA. Members with questions on the MHA behavioral health strategy may contact Lauren LaPine at the MHA.

MHA Behavioral Health Learning Series: Second Webinar

The MHA is hosting a five-part webinar series to provide hospital staff with a deeper understanding of Michigan’s behavioral health system and the hospital’s role in connecting patients with care. These webinars are part of the MHA’s continued investment in behavioral health, a key priority in its strategic action plan and advocacy and policy efforts. The series will provide hospitals with strategies to navigate the current system, strengthen partnerships and identify innovative solutions for overcoming many challenges in management of patients with behavioral health needs.

The next webinar in the series is Wednesday, March 13 at 1 p.m.

March 13: Building a Strong Working Relationship with Your Local PIHP and CMH

This webinar will cover PIHP master contracting process. rate setting and payment variability and requirements of the CMH system for in-state and out-of-state hospitals.

April 17: Navigating Challenges

The webinar will address the dispute and resolution process and the voluntary and involuntary commitment process.

May 8: Innovative Strategies to Address the Behavioral Health Crisis in Michigan Hospitals – Part 1

Will offer innovative solutions that hospitals and health system partners across the state are using to manage and treat behavioral health patients.

June 12: Innovative Strategies to Address the Behavioral Health Crisis in Michigan Hospitals – Part 2

Will offer additional innovative solutions that hospitals and health system partners across the state are using to manage and treat behavioral health patients.

Registration is free and open to MHA-members only. The series will be relevant to any employee working closely with behavioral health patients who are part of the CMH/PIHP contracting process or work with community organizations to support patient’s behavioral health needs at the time of discharge.

Members with questions on the webinar series may contact Kelsey Ostergren at the MHA. Members with questions on the MHA behavioral health strategy may contact Lauren LaPine at the MHA.

Register for the MHA Behavioral Health Learning Series

The MHA is hosting a five-part webinar series to provide hospital staff with a deeper understanding of Michigan’s behavioral health system and the hospital’s role in connecting patients with care. These webinars are part of the MHA’s continued investment in behavioral health, a key priority in its strategic action plan and advocacy and policy efforts. The series will provide hospitals with strategies to navigate the current system, strengthen partnerships and identify innovative solutions for overcoming many challenges in management of patients with behavioral health needs.

Feb. 14: History and Structure of Michigan’s Public Behavioral Health System

Topics include the history of Michigan’s public behavioral health system, the structure of community mental health/pre-paid inpatient health plan (CMH/PIHP) agencies and how to build strong relationships with these partners.

Mar. 13: Building a Strong Working Relationship with Your Local PIHP and CMH

This webinar will cover PIHP master contracting process. rate setting and payment variability and requirements of the CMH system for in-state and out-of-state hospitals.

April 17: Navigating Challenges

The webinar will address the dispute and resolution process and the voluntary and involuntary commitment process.

May 8: Innovative Strategies to Address the Behavioral Health Crisis in Michigan Hospitals – Part 1

Will offer innovative solutions that hospitals and health system partners across the state are using to manage and treat behavioral health patients.

June 12: Innovative Strategies to Address the Behavioral Health Crisis in Michigan Hospitals – Part 2

Will offer additional innovative solutions that hospitals and health system partners across the state are using to manage and treat behavioral health patients.

Registration is free and open to MHA-members only. The series will be relevant to any employee working closely with behavioral health patients who are part of the CMH/PIHP contracting process or work with community organizations to support patient’s behavioral health needs at the time of discharge.

Members with questions on the webinar series may contact Kelsey Ostergren at the MHA. Members with questions on the MHA behavioral health strategy may contact Lauren LaPine at the MHA.

MHA Releases Assisted Outpatient Treatment Utilization Infographic

In partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the MHA conducted a survey during Spring 2023 to gather insights on Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) utilization within hospitals and health systems.

AOT offers outpatient care for individuals with serious mental illness, aiming to reduce risks stemming from not following a prescribed regimen. As a proven method, AOT promotes recovery, reduces harmful behaviors and minimizes costly hospitalizations and emergency room visits. It is imperative this collaborative initiative promotes clear streamlined communication between hospitals, health systems, community mental health (CMH) agencies, law enforcement and correctional facilities. Participants were asked to share data for each individual hospital or health system.

Based on the survey results, the MHA created an infographic report that summarizes the strengths and gaps within the existing behavioral health system on AOT utilization. Findings will be used to inform the MHA’s policy and advocacy activities to advocate for improvements to the behavioral health system in Michigan.

Members with questions regarding AOT should contact Lauren LaPine at the MHA.

Behavioral Health Legislation Introduced in State House

capitol building

capitol buildingNew legislation to make changes to the screening process for potential admission to inpatient psychiatric care for behavioral and mental health patients was introduced Aug. 17 in the Michigan House of Representatives.

Rep. Graham Filler (R-St. Johns) introduced House Bill (HB) 6355 to amend the Mental Health Code and make the preadmission screening process more efficient. Under the bill, preadmission screening units, whether operated by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services or Community Mental Health services programs, must provide a mental health assessment within three hours of being notified by a hospital of the patient’s need. If a preadmission screening unit is unable to perform the assessment in a timely manner, HB 6355 would also allow for a clinically qualified individual at the acute care hospital to perform the required assessment. The bill provides for reimbursement to the hospital if hospital staff provide the preadmission screening.

The MHA supports HB 6355 because it addresses the ongoing issue of long wait times for emergency department behavioral and mental health patients. This legislation should help shorten the difficult wait times between the evaluation and beginning services.

HB 6355 was referred to the House Health Policy Committee. Members with questions regarding HB 6355 should contact Adam Carlson at the MHA.