HomeMy WebLinkAbout200122 - Minutes, Mental Health AuthWashington County Mental Health Authority Board of Director’s Meeting Minutes Date: January 22, 2020 @ 12:00 p.m. Location: 80 W. Baltimore Street, Hagerstown, MD Board Members: Present: E. Branthaver, R. Clutz, Jr., C. Pauley, J. Lowery, K. Mollo, J. Matheny Planned Absence: R.. Bratcher Absent: C. Munson, T. Ryan Guests: Quorum present: Yes WCMHA Staff Present: R. Rock, S. Norberg, B. Kerbs
Ex-Officio Member: J. Cline Proceedings: Board President Jennifer Lowery called meeting to order at 12:05 PM. Approval of Minutes:
The members present reviewed the January meeting minutes. A motion was made by C. Pauley to approve the minutes and E. Brandthaver seconded it. All members present approved the motion. Finance Committee Report by S. Norberg:
The year to date financials for FY 2020 were distributed to the board members. BHA has granted approval to
reallocate underspent grants to increase the Level E/ Project Home grant to provide a higher case rate for the provider. The new rate is in keeping with the Targeted Case Management fee for service reimbursement. The new agreement for Level E will go into effect February 1, 2020. Executive Director Report by R. Rock:
Gov Hogan released his budget last week and the mental health budget was underfunded. He reduced the statutory provider annual increase from 4% to 2%. This resulted in a $25 million shortfall. Some of that increase was to cover the minimum wage rate increase requirement and annual provider increases. The Mental Health Association of Maryland has a committee, The Behavioral Health Coalition, that can actively lobby. They can get local authorities and the behavioral health provider network involved. They will have a pretty good argument and testimony as to why this increase is needed. The final outcome is yet to be determined.
Lt. Governor’s commission completed a study on mental and behavioral health. There were eight recommendations: designing a comprehensive crisis system; continue coordination with the Behavioral Health System of Care Workgroup; increase funding for the Second Chance Act Grant; improve the crisis hotline; promote standardized training in behavioral health; standardize mental and behavioral health
programing in schools; improve access to information and services through website management by state government entities; and ensure proper warnings about cannabis use.
Effective Jan 1, 2020 there was a changeover of the administrative service organization (ASO). The ASO authorizes services for those covered by Medicaid or who are uninsured. Every five years the state is required to request proposals and Optum won the bid for this next cycle. There have been multiple problems and providers are having issues getting services authorized, submitting claims and receiving payments. The local
authorities are assisting providers with communicating the problems with BHA and Optum representatives.
Director of Children & Adolescents – Brooke Kerbs
I am a member of a subcommittee to the Behavioral Health Committee of Healthy Washington County that has taken on several projects. The subcommittee is working on providing trainings for consumers, providers, school staff and the community at large regarding suicide prevention.
WCMHA has a responsibility to oversee youth who need assistance navigating the system and are not involved in DJS or DSS. These individuals are often referred by the hospital, providers or the department of social services and may need residential treatment placement. This has increased the amount of work required by staff to manage the needs of these individuals.
Annual Behavioral Health Plan FY 2020
A draft of our FY 2020 Behavioral Health Plan was distributed to the board members present. Rick summarized the plan for the members present and they were given an opportunity to ask questions. A motion was made by C. Pauley to approve the FY 2020 Behavioral Health Plan as presented. It was seconded by E. Branthaver and approved by all member present. Meeting adjourned at 1:00 pm The next meeting is scheduled for February 26, 2020. Minutes submitted by:
Marcie Jackson 01/31/2020
___________________________________________________________________ Marcie Jackson, Secretary Date