Lynne THOMSON, LMFT

CALENDAR

July 14:    Quarterly Provider Meeting

Sept. 4:    County offices closed

Sept. 14/15: Advanced Motivational Interviewing (MI) Training - 14 credits.  Placer County e-learning

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Other Info

Couldn't make the Spring Provider Meeting held on April 13th, but want to keep informed?

Meeting minutes can be found on our website.

CHECK OUT THE MINUTES HERE

What are the Mega Regs? An Overview of the Medicaid Managed Care Final Rule

The delivery of health care services, including psychiatric care has changed and grown tremendously since 2002 with a shift occurring from a fee for service delivery model to a managed care model. The Managed Care models of health care services are risk based arrangements for service delivery of covered services, including but not limited to capitation rates, requirements for network adequacy and timely access to services.   For the first time in over a decade, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has made some significant revisions to the managed care regulations known as the Medicaid Managed Care final rule or Mega Regs.   Some of the key goals identified by CMS for implementation of the Final Rules are:

• To support State efforts to advance delivery system reform and improve the quality of care
• To strengthen the beneficiary experience of care and key beneficiary protections
• To strengthen program integrity by improving accountability and transparency
• To align key Medicaid and CHIP managed care requirements with other health coverage programs

The Placer/Sierra County Mental Health Plan is considered a Managed Care plan and therefore must adhere to the requirements outlined in the Final Rule/Mega Regs. The Implementation of these Final Rules will be phased in over a three year process.  The first phase of implementation began July 1, 2017 and pertain to beneficiary protection and informing materials.   For more information please click on:

http://www.cbhda.org/member-info/committees/medi-cal-policy/federal-regulations-resources/

Problem Resolution Process

If a client has a concern or problem with their services, do you know how to assist them? They should start by discussing the problem with you. If they’re not satisfied with that outcome, you can provide them with several options.

If they want a different provider or a second opinion, they should fill out a “Formal Request for Change of Service Provider/Request for Second Opinion” form and mail it to the address on the form.

If they have a service complaint they can phone me at 916-787-8979.  I will explain the options they have, which include:  

• LPS Complaint Process:  An informal and fast process available to all clients
• Grievance:  A more formal problem investigation/resolution process available to Medi-Cal clients
• Appeal:  For Medi-Cal clients who have been notified that their services have been reduced, terminated or denied
• Expedited Appeal:  Same as an appeal, but for someone whose health or stability is at immediate risk due to the reduction, termination or denial of Medi-Cal services

Clients who want to file an Appeal or Grievance can fill out the “Appeal/Grievance” form (click here and type in Appeal Grievance form in the Search Box) and mail it to the address on the form.  If clients are not satisfied with the outcome, I can assist them in filing for a State Fair Hearing, or provide them with a referral to the State Office of Patients’ Rights for a review of the outcome.

The forms mentioned above should be available to clients in your office. If you need assistance in procuring forms, pre-paid return envelopes, or other beneficiary informing materials, feel free to phone me at 916-787-8979. 

Melinda KEELER, MFTI

Newly Appointed  Placer County Director HHS ASOC

On May 21st Amy Ellis, MFT, became the new Director of Adult System of Care for Placer County following the retirement of Maureen Bauman.  Amy has been with Placer County since September 2001, starting with Placer County directly after completing her Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family therapy from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 

Amy worked in direct services with children and families with the Children System of Care before coming to the Adult System of Care to provide therapeutic services to adults with co-occurring substance use and mental health needs.  She has worked in and promoted to positions touching various areas that impact adults, such as: consumer development, Workforce Education and Training, Substance Use Services, and Mental Health.  

Amy has a great deal of passion for the mission of Health and Human Services and is excited to positively impact employee engagement and improved outcomes for our most vulnerable adults living in Placer County.  Throughout her years of service she has worked to build strong partnerships with community providers, criminal justice staff and other stakeholders who share her passion about the services offered by the Adult System of Care.  

Amy shares, “I have always been proud to say that I work for Placer County and the reputation it has for delivering excellent services. I grew up and live in Placer County; my friends and family are here.  I have a vested interest in keeping Placer a wonderful place to live, work and receive services.  Together, with the help of our wonderful staff and community partners, I hope to continue making services accessible, welcoming and effective for both the consumers needing assistance and for those who love them.”

Movie Therapy

Cinematherapy, or movie therapy, is a tool many psychologists and MFTs have studied and used for such mental illnesses as anxiety and depression or for substance use illnesses as alcoholism.

For children in therapy who have internalized “problem” labels attributed to them by others, cinematherapy and narrative techniques can be used to externalize the movie character’s problem, review how the character defeats the problem, and study the qualities the character demonstrates while overcoming the problem.

A 2015 study published in the Journal of Family Therapy entitled: Cinema Narrative Therapy: Utilizing Family Films to Externalize Children's ‘problems’ reported that films can help adolescents verbalize internal feelings or work through issues in their home life, like divorce, rebelliousness or selfishness.  It “allows a better understanding of the problem and helps to break down psychological defenses, like denial.”[1] 

Viewings were followed by an hour long discussion facilitated by a psychologist. Discussions can either be in a group setting or in individual consultations. Cinematherapy helped increase participants’ motivation to change as they viewed films about others overcoming similar issues. 

Psychological counseling can help uncover the patient’s own life scenario, patterns of thinking, strengths, weaknesses, etc. while assisting them to learn to become the writer, director and actor of their own lives.[2]

[1] Capt. Laurent Brulin. Médecine & Armées 2013. Print

[2] Kraft, Amy. “Lights, Camera, Therapy.” Discover Magazine June 2017: 24 – 27. Print.