OhioMHAS NewsNow | STARLight Center Ribbon Cutting...Director Cornyn Participates in Ohio Business Roundtable Panel Discussion...New Medicare BH Coverage...OCDP Seeks Comments on Proposed Rules...Upcoming Trainings...In the News

Ohio Department of Behavioral Health sent this bulletin at 03/01/2024 04:10 PM EST

Friday, March 1, 2024

Director Cornyn Attends Ribbon Cutting for Fairfield County Crisis Stabilization Center

Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) Director LeeAnne Cornyn and several members of the OhioMHAS leadership team visited Fairfield County Thursday afternoon where they participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new STARLight Center (Stabilization, Treatment and Recovery) in Lancaster.

The first-of-its-kind facility in Fairfield County consists of two stories, with one floor dedicated to mental health patients and the other to substance abuse patients. The mental health floor will be operated by New Horizons Mental Health Services, a mental health crisis prevention provider, and the substance abuse floor will be managed by Ohio Guidestone, a statewide mental health and substance abuse service provider.

The adult-only center is expected to begin welcoming residential patients in late spring, with housing space for eight mental health and 12 substance use patients to stabilize their situations before transferring to outpatient services. The center hopes to begin providing outpatient support in the next few weeks.

OhioMHAS contributed $750,000 in SFY 2021 capital funds and $538,166 in American Rescue Plan Act crisis infrastructure expansion funds to help support operations. Fairfield County ADAMH Board Executive Director Marcy Fields said the center fulfills a promise made to county residents who cited a need for crisis stabilization services. A 2018 survey conducted by the Board showed mental health crisis response and availability of beds were the top priorities for care, as determined by respondents.

Pictured: Fairfield County ADAMH Board Executive Director Marcy Fields (center) cuts the ribbon on the new STARLight Center in Lancaster joined by Fairfield County Commissioner Jeff Fix, Fairfield County ADAMH Board Chair Joe Palmer, OhioMHAS Director LeeAnne Cornyn, Vice President of Regional Operations at OhioGuidestone Amanda Wattenberg, President and CEO of OhioGuidestone Brant Russell, and Fairfield County Commissioner David Levacy (l-r).

View More Photos

Director Cornyn Provides Update on Ohio's Wellness Workforce During Ohio Business Roundtable Government Relations Council Panel Discussion

Earlier this week, OhioMHAS Director LeeAnne Cornyn met with members of the Ohio Business Roundtable Government Relations Council where she provided an update on efforts to strengthen and grow Ohio’s wellness workforce. Director Cornyn participated in a panel discussion alongside other recently appointed state agency leaders, where she emphasized that the health and success of Ohio’s families and communities depends on our ability to recruit, train, and retain the best talent to ensure Ohio has the most robust behavioral health workforce possible. Learn more about our ongoing behavioral health workforce efforts HERE.

Medicaid Coordination of Benefits with New Medicare Behavioral Health Coverage

Beginning Jan. 1, 2024, the Medicare program began covering services provided to Medicare beneficiaries by marriage and family therapists (MFT) and mental health counselors (MHC), and Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) services authorized under Sections 4121 and 4124 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. These provisions are implemented as part of two recently published final rules:

As of Jan. 1, Medicare became the primary payer for Medicare-covered services furnished by MFTs and MHCs to individuals who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. Additionally, Medicare became the primary payer for IOP services furnished to individuals eligible for Medicare and Medicaid by hospital outpatient departments, Medicare community mental health centers (CMHC), opioid treatment programs, rural health clinics (RHC), and federally qualified health centers (FQHC).

CMS recently provided guidance to states regarding coordination of benefits between Medicare and Medicaid and third-party liability under the Medicaid program. In accordance with this guidance, to allow providers time to complete the Medicare enrollment process:

Ohio Department of Medicaid and MyCare Ohio plans will continue to pay claims for services to Medicaid enrollees with dual Medicare and Medicaid eligibility for impacted providers and services for claims submitted through June 30, 2024.
Once practitioners are enrolled with Medicare, claims must be submitted to Medicare prior to seeking cost-sharing reimbursement from Medicaid, starting on the effective date of the provider’s enrollment with Medicare.

For any payments made by Medicaid (before or after June 30, 2024), including payments made by Medicaid managed care entities, if Medicare is later found to be the liable payor because the provider’s Medicare enrollment was active and the service was Medicare-covered, the Medicaid payment will be recouped as required by CMS.

To ensure secondary payments by Medicaid can be made, eligible practitioners that provide services to individuals who are eligible for Medicare and Medicaid should also be enrolled with Medicare. Eligible practitioners can apply to become Medicare providers through the Provider Enrollment Chain and Ownership System (PECOS) at Provider Enrollment Chain, and Ownership System (PECOS). The PECOS website offers tutorials regarding enrollment in Medicare.

Information on CMS’ coverage of these new Medicare providers is found below:

https://www.medicaid.gov/sites/default/files/2023-12/cib12142023.pdf

https://www.cms.gov/files/document/marriage-and-family-therapists-and-mental-health-counselors-faq-09052023.pdf

OCDP Invites Comment on Proposed Rules

The Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board (OCDP) invites Prevention Certificate Holders, licensees, and CDCAs and stakeholders to submit comments regarding the proposed prevention requirements and scope of practice rule revisions, and one new rule regarding ethical conduct when using telehealth by March 13, 2024. Drafts of all the proposed rules in their entirety can be found on the OCDP website under About Us>Forms and Publications (page 3)>Proposed Spring 24 Rules, or by clicking HERE. Comments and questions can be directed to the Board at rules@ocdp.ohio.gov. Please cc: CSIPublicComments@governor.ohio.gov with any comments.

Ohio Alcohol Conference — March 25

Prevention Action Alliance and OHLQ are teaming up to host the Ohio Alcohol Conference on March 25 from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. at the Quest Conference Center in Westerville. In addition to remarks from keynote speaker, David Jernigan, Ph.D., the conference will feature three breakout sessions, each offering attendees three choices from various topics. Presentations will delve into prevention strategies across the lifespan, effective health communication techniques, early intervention screening, and more. Cost is $50.

More Information and Register

Hancock County's 5th Annual Trauma Conference — April 23

The Hancock County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board is partnering with the Northwest Ohio Trauma Informed Care Collaborative, and Family Resource Center to host the 5th Annual Trauma Conference on April 23 at the University of Findlay Winebrenner Theological Seminary. Cost is $45. Questions? Email adamhs@yourpathtohealth.org or call 419.424.1985.

More Information and Register