Tag: IMC

BH Forum materials – April 2023

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Overview
In 2022, the Behavioral Health Forum allocated $1.2 million dollars of integrated managed care funds to initiatives that support the regional behavioral health workforce. In 2023, the Forum is designing and launching these initiatives. Up-to-date information about initiatives is located on this page.

April Meeting Information

April Agenda

Helpful Information:

Meeting Notes

Forum Slides

Full Recording

If you have additional comments to add to the April meeting record or want to register vote(s) on any of the discussion topics, please send an email to hannah@betterhealthtogether.org before close-of-business on 4/13. For general idea-sharing and discussion, contact Hannah any time. Thank you!

Announcements

Guiding Principles document

Member Agreement

Previous meeting materials posted here

2022 Equity Assessment

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Below you will find information and resources for the 2022 iteration of the BHT Equity Assessment.

If you have any questions, please reach out to EQA@betterhealthtogether.org.

About the Equity Assessment

Better Health Together is offering the Equity Assessment to partner organizations throughout Eastern Washington as a way to continue our shared work of advancing equity in our region. Better Health Together first administered the survey at the end of 2019, and shared regional and organizational-level results in early 2020. The 2022 assessment will go live Sept 12, 2022, with results shared in early 2023.

The assessment delves into many aspects of equity, including gender, race, disability, sexuality, language, and lived experience. In this assessment, respondents will be asked to share their observations about equity-related activities and perspectives. Your participation is an opportunity to demonstrate and grow your organization’s commitments to equity. Assessment results can be used as you apply for funding, engage in internal and external equity work, and promote a culture of learning and growth.

We encourage partner organizations to have as many staff as possible to complete the Equity Assessment when it is released. The assessment will be available in English, Spanish, and Russian. A translation of the introductory language will also be available in Marshallese (we are not able to offer a translation of the assessment at this time).

With BHT’s commitment to advancing equity and a strong emphasis on equity in Washington’s Medicaid Waiver renewal, we expect the Equity Assessment will inform future Waiver funding through BHT.

2022 REGIONAL REPORT

2022 BHT Equity Assessment Regional Report

Released February 2023

Organization-level reports will be sent to participant organizations in late February/early March.

RESOURCES

BHT Equity Workbook

Equity Assessment survey link – opened Sept 12, closed Oct 28.

  • You should receive survey link via email from someone at your organization after the assessment opens on Sept 12.

  • The assessment will be available in English, Spanish, and Russian. Participants will select their preference at the beginning of the survey.

  • A Marshallese translation of the introductory text and definition of terms will be available. The assessment tool itself is not available in Marshallese at this time.

Equity Assessment Overview

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Definitions

Overview Webinar – Sept 9, 12:00-1:00 pm

Communications

Behavioral Health Supervision Support Funding

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September 2023 Update: Thank you for your interest in this opportunity. All funds have been allocated to eligible organizations and are being used to support behavioral health supervision efforts in the Better Health Together region.

February 2023 Update: The Behavioral Health Forum has allocated an additional $150,000 to support behavioral health supervision. Full information, including eligibility details and the application link are included below.

Background

In 2021 the Better Health Together Board allocated a portion of remaining Integrated Managed Care dollars to support behavioral health (BH) workforce initiatives. This included $150,000 to support organizations with SUD and master’s level behavioral health staff with supervision so that staff can gain critical licensure.

BHT used the Behavioral Health Forum, a gathering of behavioral health providers and integrated primary care partners, to gather feedback about supervision needs and barriers. Based on this feedback, we designed an approach for expending the allocated dollars and distributed all $150,000 to eligible organizations. At the six-month reporting mark, these dollars had supported over 1200 hours of supervision for 72 individuals, training for five new supervisors and $5,000 worth of licensing/supervision fees!

In 2022, the Behavioral Health Forum became a self-governing body and engaged in a participatory budgeting process to allocate the remaining $1.2 million of Integrated Managed Care funds to support the Eastern Washington behavioral health workforce. See this 2022 Year in Review Blog Post for more information. As part of this process, Forum members allocated another $150,000 to continue funding behavioral health supervision.

Funding Details

Purpose

To support provider organizations with SUD and master’s level behavioral health staff with supervision so that the staff can gain critical licensure and to build capacity for supervision in our region.

Amount

Funding up to $10,000 per applicant organization to support supervision of SUD and master’s level behavioral health staff. $150,000 total funds available.

Intent: broad vs. focused support

Broad. Intent is to provide some support to as many partners as interested, within the limits of the funding amount.

Intent: current vs. new partners

Current. Intent is to support current BHT partners (see Eligibility below for definition).  Please note that partners who received funding in 2021 are eligible to apply for additional funding in 2023.

Guiding principles

  • Not a competitive process while funds are available. Screening to determine whether applicant meets eligibility requirements and doesn’t exceed organization limit in their ask.

  • Flexibility for partners. Partners can design request based on their organization’s needs, within in the funding parameters.

  • The first round (2021) of funding established strong interest, need, and demand from partners. This is a second round approach that replicates the successful established process.

 Eligibility

  • Applicant provides behavioral health (inclusive of SUD) services to Medicaid clients in the BHT region.

  • Applicant is a current BHT partner organization. Defined as an organization with a contract in good standing either currently or in the last two years, project-specific agreement (PSA), carve-out agreement, Collaborative member MOU or management agreement, or currently serving on a BHT technical council or Board of Directors.

  • NOTE: organizations that received first round (2021) behavioral health supervision funding are eligible to apply for second round (2023) funding.

Timeline

Rolling application process. This is to give partners time to do intentional planning of needs and costs before submitting an application.

BHT will review applications within four weeks of receipt. From there, BHT will communicate next steps to applicant (i.e. approval, adjustments needed to application, begin the funding agreement paperwork, etc.).

Funded organizations will enter an agreement with BHT to receive funds, which will include reporting on use of funds and outputs/outcomes agreed upon by organization and BHT.  

Requested funds can be used over a timeline of up to three years from the start of the funding agreement.

Areas for fund requests

Funds can be requested to support behavioral health supervision needs as defined by applicant.

Potential areas for funding

  • Contracting for outside supervision

  • Offsetting lost billable hours of internal supervisors providing supervision

  • Purchasing supervision-related materials, paying for exam fees or license fees, etc.

  • Training costs for provider to become a supervisor

  • Other as defined by applicant

Funds use limitations

  • Funds cannot be used as reimbursement for previous supervision efforts or activities.

  • Funds cannot be used to pay for services billable under Medicaid, Medicare, or other insurance sources.

Payment structure

50% of funding up-front
50% at 6-month reporting
Annual and end-reporting required but not tied to funds

Reporting

Partner defines measurable outputs/outcomes for the funding, for example:

  • Provide supervision to five master’s level clinicians

  • Provide supervision to three SUDP trainees

  • Provide 800 supervised hours to complete supervision needs for three clinicians

  • Support two clinicians in completing training to become supervisors

Support finding supervisors

BHT has compiled a list of local supervisors who are available to provide supervision hours and support. This is a resource list only. It is up to organizations to contract for supervision. Available Supervisor Directory

NASW-Washington also has a supervisor list, available here: https://www.nasw-wa.org/approved-supervisors

Before you apply

Please use the rolling timeline as an opportunity to get specific about your planning before applying. We want to give you time to make specific plans (selecting an appropriate supervisor for your organization, identifying costs of enrolling in supervisor training, etc.). Your application should be a plan, not just general intent. For example:

  • If you will be using an outside supervisor, include the name of supervisor(s), cost per hour, number of hours, and other specific identified costs. Note: this will not bind you to using that supervisor, but we do want to see that you’ve started conversations and planning with outside supervisor(s).

  • If you are offsetting lost billable time for internal supervisor(s), specify the average hourly billing cost and number of hours you expect to offset.

BHT may also ask for additional details following our review of your application.

There are a few reasons we’re asking for this specificity. First, we want to use the specific costs and needs you identify to advocate for better policies and reimbursement for providers. Second, our Board wants to ensure that these funds are used specifically to make an impact on supervision-related workforce challenges, not absorbed into other activities or budget needs. Lastly, as always, BHT is accountable for reporting on how dollars from the Health Care Authority are used.

Application

September 2023 update: all funds have been allocated and the application is closed.

PDF of application – For use in drafting application only. Please submit final application via the button above.

Have questions or need support?
Contact Hannah Klaassen, BHT Program Manager: Hannah@BetterHealthTogether.org

BH Forum materials – February 2023

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Overview
In 2022, the Behavioral Health Forum allocated $1.2 million dollars of integrated managed care funds to initiatives that support the regional behavioral health workforce. During meetings in February, March, and June 2023, the Forum will discuss progress on active initiatives and continue planning to launch initiatives that are still in the design phase.

February Meeting Information

February Agenda

Helpful Handouts:

Meeting Notes

Forum Slides

BHT Youth/Young Adult Program Presentation Slides

Full recording

If you have additional comments or to register vote(s) on any of the discussion topics, please send an email to hannah@betterhealthtogether.org. Thank you!

Announcements

  • The UW Psychiatry Consultation Line (PCL) is a free, state-funded service that provides consultation regarding diagnosing and treating patients experiencing mental health and/or substance use conditions. As of a January 23 expansion, any mental health or substance use care provider in Washington may call the PCL with questions about medications or diagnosis. This includes prescribing providers and non-prescribing providers. Read more about the expansion here.

  • The Office of Behavioral Health Advocacy (OBHA) will be hosting a Behavioral Health Monthly Forum on the second Wednesday of each month from 3 to 4:30 pm. Hosted by Gail Kogle, Program Director East, OBHA, this Zoom gathering is for community members to talk about the region’s behavioral health system: what’s going well? Where can we improve? What are the biggest barriers to providing care? Click this link to view the flyer with full details. For an email invitation or additional information contact SpokaneRegion@obhadvocacy.org or call 509-655-2839.

  • The results of Better Health Together’s Community-based Care Coordination Landscape Analysis are available on this web page. The project’s goal was to identify the current state of care coordination and opportunities to create an improved whole-person model that will better meet the needs of residents and communities. Behavioral Health Forum members contributed to a focus group and participated by taking the survey. Follow the link to see full information including the report, appendices, a roadmap, and next steps.

  • Better Health Together is in the process of forming a Community Health Worker (CHW) Apprenticeship Program in Washington State that will need to be reviewed and approved by Washington State Labor & Industries (L&I) in July 2023. BHT is seeking people in Eastern Washington with experience in the CHW field to participate on the Apprenticeship Committee. They will be responsible for helping develop the Program Standards and making sure that the Program follows WA L&I guidelines as long as the Program remains active. The Committee needs to be comprised of an equal number of CHW employers and CHWs and can have 4-12 total members. We are offering an optional stipend for CHW representatives and/or those who work in smaller community-based organizations to help offset costs associated with their participation. More information about the committee and the application to join are available here:  https://forms.office.com/r/m0gb7d2NG5. Please apply by Friday, February 10. 

  • Contact Hannah@BetterHealthTogether.org to submit additional announcements for this page

Guiding Principles document

Member Agreement

Previous meeting materials posted here

Behavioral Health Forum Workforce Initiatives

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The Behavioral Health Forum is a convening body for organizations that provide behavioral health services to Medicaid populations, enhance the behavioral health workforce, or interact with other ways with behavioral health systems in Eastern Washington. In 2022, the Forum engaged in a participatory budgeting process to allocate $1.2 million of integrated managed care funds to 12 initiatives that support the behavioral health workforce. This funding is available to eligible organizations and individuals as determined by Forum members. Descriptions and details for these initiatives can be viewed by clicking the plus sign (+) beside the orange headings below. Note that some are currently open and some have not yet launched.

For additional information, see our 2024 Behavioral Health Workforce Investments Update. If you have questions or would like additional details about the initiatives listed here, contact Hannah Klaassen, Program Manager (Hannah@BetterHealthTogether.org).

 

Workforce Recruitment & Retention



  • September 2023 update: all funds have been allocated to support provider organizations with supervision for master’s level behavioral health (including SUD) staff so they can gain critical licensure and the region can build supervision capacity.

    Read results of the round one behavioral health supervision funding at this link. Stay tuned for reporting results from this second round of funding, coming in 2024.



  • Funding covered the cost for behavioral health providers serving Medicaid populations in the Better Health Together region to complete the SUDP Alternative Certification program through the Community Colleges of Spokane.



  • The Forum has allocated a total of $207,864 in scholarships to support the first cohort (fall 2023 start date) in this new program at Spokane Falls Community College. The Bachelor’s of Applied Science in Integrated Behavioral Health (BAS-IBH) program builds on SFCC’s programs in addiction studies and integrated community services.

    To learn more about the degree, visit the SFCC website. The scholarship program will be managed by the SFCC team, including the decision process and award distribution.



  • Funds provide flexible financial support to organizations in the BHT region (six counties and three reservations in Eastern Washington) that are training the behavioral health workforce through formal practicum and internship programs. By offering this funding, the Forum aims to support supervisors, administrators, clinicians, and clinicians-in-training to better train and retain members of the Medicaid-serving behavioral health workforce.



  • At the November 2024 meeting, members of the Better Health Together Behavioral Health Forum approved a motion to allocate $150,000 of their remaining available funds for member organizations to use at their discretion to support the behavioral health workforce. Visit this web page [LINK] to see full details. The opportunity to request funds closes December 31, 2024.

 

Peers & Community Health Workers



  • This initiative funds one week-long Certified Peer Counselor (CPC) training specifically for Eastern Washington candidates and several WRAP trainings for Peers.

    Twenty people completed CPC training November 13-17, 2023.

    WRAP training dates will be posted when confirmed.

    To learn more about the Certified Peer Counselor role, complete the online prerequisite course, and apply for a Health Care Authority CPC training, visit this Health Care Authority web page.



  • Information about the next Wellness Recovery Action Plan training, scheduled for Q1 2025, will be sent to the Forum contact list when registration open.



  • Connect with the Eastern Washington Community Health Worker Network to attend monthly meetings and find out more about future training opportunities: EWCHWNetwork@BetterHealthTogether.org.

 

Training & Education



  • Training offered in fall 2024 included mental health first aid, intergenerational colonial trauma, and motivational interviewing.



  • At the June 2024 meeting, members of the Better Health Together Behavioral Health Forum approved a motion to allocate $45,000 of training funds to offset lost billable hours. These dollars provide direct payments to member organizations to replace income lost when staff members are engaged in training that prevents them from billing for their time. Funds can cover any trainings attended by billable staff during the 2024 and 2025 calendar years.

    Eleven organizations applied for funds and were awarded $4090 each to offset lost billable hours and support training for the behavioral health workforce.