Mental Health and
Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Managed Care Project
The mental health/alcohol and other drug abuse (MH/AODA) managed care demonstration
projects will develop models of care for persons of all ages with serious mental illness
and substance abuse disorders. These demonstrations will seek to blend Medicaid funds with
community aids and county tax levy to create a single, flexible system of care for this
population. The DHS is interested in demonstrations that provide primary and acute care
in addition to the MH/AODA services as well as demonstrations that will provide MH/AODA
services only. The DHS expects to operate demonstration projects in three to six sites
(county, tribal or multi-county/tribal) beginning in July 1999.
The DHS’s original concept for these programs is expressed in the April 1996
document, "Designing Managed Care Models for Persons
with Mental Illness and Substance Abuse—A Concept Paper." The Report of
the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Mental Health identified a vision,
mission and guiding principles, in addition to a number of specific program directions,
that the DHS will build upon as it develops the demonstration projects.
The Department has formed a Blue Ribbon Commission Implementation Advisory Committee
to oversee the implementation of the BRC report recommendations and the development of the
MH/AODA managed care demonstrations. Consistent with the recommendations of the BRC, the
DHS is developing policy for the demonstrations in conjunction with consumers, families,
providers, and other stakeholders and building on the county/tribal-based system of care
in Wisconsin. In January 1998, the DHS released a "Request for
Letters of Interest in Developing Behavioral Health Managed Care Program Features
(RFLI)" to counties and tribes. Through this RFLI the DHS selected six
primary planning partners to work with us on the
development of contract requirements for the demonstrations.
Policy is being developed through three primary workgroups: Consumer
Outcomes, Fiscal Issues, and Benefit
and System Design. Additional workgroups related to the managed care project and
other BRC recommendations are Legislative, Recovery and Consumer and Family
Involvement, and Stigma Reduction.
Questions or comments on the MH/AODA managed care demonstration project can be directed
to Therese Ahlers at 608-266-9330 or ahlertm@DHS.state.wi.us.
Questions or comments about the overall Blue Ribbon Commission report and its
implementation can be directed to Chris Hendrickson at 608-267-9282 or hendrch@DHS.state.wi.us.
MH/AODA Managed Care -- Frequently Asked Questions
Related Websites:
Bureau of Community Mental
Health, Department of Health and Family Services
Bureau of Substance Abuse
Services, Department of Health and Family Services
Last Revised: December 27, 2010 |
