OR Introduces Coverage for Mental Health Mobile Crisis Intervention Services

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has approved a proposal from Oregon’s Medicaid program, Oregon Health Plan, to cover community-based substance abuse and mental healthcare mobile crisis intervention services.

“I am pleased to approve Oregon’s plan for providing vital resources to people in moments of crisis and connecting them to the care and support needed for long-term recovery,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “With this approval, Oregon will be able to connect people to a qualified health professional as the first point of care for someone in crisis, which ensures they get the care they need when and where they need it.”

The new benefit is available due to funds from the American Rescue Plan and took the form of an amendment to the Medicaid state plan.

Through this benefit, beneficiaries who have mental health or substance abuse crises can access a behavioral health specialist at any time. The crisis intervention services include de-escalation, crisis screenings and assessments, coordination with and referrals to professionals and paraprofessionals who can offer a range of services including social services and patient education.

The press release noted that this solution has the potential to improve patient outcomes for beneficiaries with substance use disorders and mental healthcare needs. But it also can diminish inpatient healthcare spending, if the solution effectively helps reduce the number of serious adverse mental health and substance use events.

“Addressing our nation’s mental health crisis is a top priority of the Biden-Harris Administration, and thanks to President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, Oregon can better provide its residents with the support and stabilization services they need during times of crisis,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra.

“I encourage all states to take advantage of this opportunity and work with us to expand access to these critical health care services.”

Oregon policymakers highlighted that not only could the program improve access to care for those in need of mental healthcare and substance abuse care, but it may also have an impact on health equity. The program is based on a separate program, the Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets (CAHOOTS) program, operated by the White Bird Clinic in Eugene, Oregon.

“This great news for Oregon clearly demonstrates how our state continues to lead the nation when it comes to reimagining a more humane and effective response for people in a mental health crisis,” said U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chair of the Senate Finance Committee. 

“In the true spirit of the “Oregon Way” focusing on smart solutions, CAHOOTS has long proven a success at de-escalating these crises by getting people the mental health help they need without involving law enforcement.”

The American Rescue Plan Act has also been used to improve access to care for youths with Medicaid coverage facing mental healthcare challenges. The law boosted federal funding for home and community-based services programs by 10 percentage points.

This announcement comes on the heels of a report which found that 52 percent of Oregon Medicaid providers never saw Medicaid enrollees in 2018.

There were nearly 874 fewer mental health nonprescribers and 140 fewer mental health prescribers than the Medicaid program’s directories indicated. The directories boasted five times more specialty mental health prescribers than were actually available according to the claims data.