Empowering Recovery: The Money Follows the Person Behavioral Health Pilot Dena Stoner, Senior Policy Advisor, Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services Texas Department of State Health Services dena.stoner@dshs.state.tx.us
State Health Services Texas behavioral health (mental health and substance use treatment) authority and Public Health authority Values: using research to create innovative service models empowering the person to recover from mental illness and / or substance use partnering with other service systems to address complex mental, physical and social needs
Current Reality People with severe mental illness in Texas live 29 years less, on average, than other Americans and have more health problems earlier in life. 1 National data indicates that large numbers of nursing facility residents have a primary diagnosis of mental illness, with a disproportionate number being under the age of 65. 2 In 2007, over 7,000 Texas nursing facility residents were former clients of the public mental health and / or substance abuse system. 3 1. Lutterman T, Ganju V, Schacht L, Shaw R, Monihan K, et.al. Sixteen State Study on Mental Health Performance Measures. DHHSPublication No. (SMA) 03-3835. Rockville, MD: Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, 2003 2. Bagchi, A.D., Simon, S.E. & Verdier, J.M. (2009). How many nursing home residents live with a mental illness? Psychiatric Services, 60(7), 958-964. 3. Texas Department of State Health Services and Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (2007). Data match showing prevalence of former DSHS clients in DADS licensed nursing facilities.
Mike Schizoaffective disorder Insulin dependent diabetes Street drug and alcohol addiction Emaciated and physically debilitated Lacked social, living skills and family supports Considered a behavior problem In and out of nursing facilities or homeless for most of his adult life
Susan Age 65, was admitted to a nursing facility aftershe tore apart her apartment during a psychotic episode and broke most of her possessions. She had a host of mental and physical conditions, including bipolar disorder, panic disorder, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, neuropathy, and edema. Socially isolated and unable to manage her declining health, Susan faced the prospect of living the rest of her life in a nursing facility. 5
Behavioral Health Pilot Goals: Transition adults with severe mental illness and/or substance abuse disorders from nursing facilities to the community Successfully support individuals in the community by integrating evidence-based mental health and substance abuse services with long term care services and supports Pilot began April 2008 and will conclude in 2016. Due to success it expanded to serve Atascosa, Wilson and Guadalupe counties. The Pilot could result in systemic changes to the Medicaid long term services system. 6
Pilot Scope Includes adults with mental health or substance abuse conditions and functional limitations who have resided in an institution for at least 3 months. In additionto existing long term care and relocation services, BH Pilot services are available for participants: Substance abuse services Cognitive Adaptation Training (CAT) 7
Substance Use Services Services are customized Transportation provided Services include: Assessment by a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor Community-based services in nursing home, person s home or therapist s office Linkage and transportation to other community services (Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous, etc.) Recovery support groups Peer Specialist 8
Cognitive Adaptation Training Evidence-based intervention that helps individuals master skills of independent living Uses a motivational strengths perspective to facilitate person s initiative and independence Provides assistance and simple, inexpensive environmental modifications (e.g., calendars, clocks, signs, organizers) to help people establish daily routines, organize environment and function independently 9
Cognitive Issues in Mental Illness Psychomotor Speed Attention Memory Executive Functions formulate plans for goal directed behavior sequence behavior and thought maintain goal-directed-action in the face of distraction inhibit irrelevant or inappropriate behavior 10
Compensating, Not Curing Executive Function Attention Memory Psychomotor Speed CAT Compensatory strategies Environmental supports Performance of ADL s Social Function Occupational Function 11
Training can Include Bathing Dressing Dental Hygiene Make-up Work/Vocational Skills Social Skills, Communication and Telephone Use Laundry Grocery Shopping Transportation Leisure Skills Toileting Housekeeping/Care of home Eating, Nutrition, Cooking $ Management/Budgeting Medication Management Orientation 12
Dressing Apathy Disinhibition Mixed 13
Service Period Pilot services are provided to the participant while still in the nursing facility (up to six months before discharge) to: Begin development of therapeutic relationship Help choose the community residence and accomplish relocation (housing voucher paperwork, physically visiting potential residences) Identify potential triggers in the community for drug or alcohol abuse Address potential barriers, supports, experiences, fears Pilot services are provided up to 365 days after discharge 14
Transition Planning Individual Plan Developed with person, CAT and/or SA therapist, HMO, and housing specialist Completed 60 days or more before conclusion of Pilot services Designed to provide continuity beyond Pilot Evaluation continues after transition from Pilot services to regular HMO long term services 15
Partnership The long term care agency operates the overall MFP Demonstration and provides relocation assistance. State Medicaid provides a broad array of home and community-based services and transition assistance through HMOs The state mental health and substance abuse authority operates the MFP BH Pilot, provides state match for BH Pilot services and contracts for Pilot services / evaluation. Local Mental Health Authorities and / or University of Texas Health Science Center-San Antonio provide the BH Pilot services. UT Health Science Center also provides technical assistance, training and supervision of CAT therapists. UT Austin conducts the independent evaluation. 16
Reaching Out Weekly Pilot team meetings and monthly Community Transition Team meetings resolve individual and systemic issues Training for key community partners, such as nursing facility social workers to build the bridges 17
The Pilot Today Over 280 individuals have been served 140 have completed a year of Pilot services Project findings have been recognized and published in national journals 18
MFP BH Results To date, 71% of individuals in the Pilot have maintained independence in the community. Participants demonstrate statistically significant improvement on Adjustment to Living/ Adaptation section of the Multnomah Community Ability Scale, which measures survival in the community, independence in daily life, managing money and coping abilities. Preliminary analysis indicates that Medicaid costs for participants in the Pilot are lower on average than costs prior to their discharge from the NF. Examples of increased independence include getting a paid job at competitive wages, driving to work, volunteering, getting a GED, attending computer classes and working toward a college degree. 19
MFP: What s Next? The state s Medicaid mental health and substance abuse services are transitioning to managed care. Texas could include the Pilot services in its managed care long term services and supports system. Thousands of Texans could benefit. Texas is sharing results nationally to inform federal policy changes that support independence, recovery. Texas is including MFP Pilot services in a home and community-based program for individuals with long (1yr +), repeated stays in state mental health hospitals 20
Mike Mike s dream was to have a job and a place of his own. With the help of CAT, Mike set employment goals, learned to interview and got some vocational training. He began working 20 hours a week. Through CAT, he learned the social skills needed to get along in the community. He handled daily activities like catching the bus, taking medication, doing laundry and caring for himself. CAT also helped him learn to manage his blood sugar level and eat healthy. His STAR+PLUS service coordinator helped him get the health services he needed. Through substance abuse counseling, Mike was able to understand issues in his past and reconnected with his natural family.. 21
Susan Moved from the nursing facility to an apartment complex. Her goals included achieving mental stability; getting involved in her community; and focusing on her artwork, which had been very limited in the nursing facility. Susan and her CAT therapist created a journal in which Susan logs each day s moods and their causes. They also regularly practiced guided relaxation, which Susan learned to perform on her own. The CAT therapist connected her with public transportation, which she uses for medical appointments and weekly trips to the art co-op. She learned to use journals to monitor her blood sugar and blood pressure, and consequently no longer needs skilled nursing services. Her talent was noticed. She was invited to teach an art class. 22
From Institution to Art Gallery 23
Questions? 24