This morning, the Joint Medicaid Oversight Committee (JMOC) was provided a behavioral health quarterly update from Directors John McCarthy, Ohio Department of Medicaid, and Tracy Plouck, Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.  Their updates were followed by a panel discussion about the Redesign.   Panelists included the following individuals, and their names are linked to copies of their testimony:

• Jonathan Lee, Signature Health 
• Leigh Johnson, Wingspan 
• Nelson Burns, Coleman Professional Services 
• Nicholas Rees, Buckeye Ranch 
• Jennifer Riha, A Renewed Mind 
• Hugh Wirtz, Ohio Council 
• Director's Plouck & McCarthy Presentation 
   

The discussion lasted for about three hours with many good, substantive questions from legislators.  At the hearing, members of the General Assembly had the opportunity to hear concerns about the Redesign from providers. There was an understanding by these legislators that the behavioral health workforce is made up of unlicensed and licensed clinicians using a team-based care delivery model, and that the Redesign as currently planned would lower reimbursement rates for those unlicensed workers and those without four-year degrees.  Such impacts to the current workforce would negatively affect access to care.  A suggestion to make permanent grand-fathering for case managers after they meet the three-year experience requirement to bill the higher Therapeutic Behavioral Services (TBS) rate was well received.  Finally, Director McCarthy indicated that the actuarial rate assumptions will be shared with stakeholders.  These are all positive steps in the right direction. 

The MHAC met with each member of JMOC except Senator Burke, Chair of JMOC over the last week to share our concerns.  Senator. Burke plans to hold an interested party meeting in the near future.  We will continue to meet with the Administration and General Assembly on the Behavioral Health Redesign.  

  

JMOC hearing, today September 22.

  

Your friends at the MHAC