Program provides mobile crisis assessment and stabilization for mental health and substance use

As you may have read last September in The Record, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan began offering a new method of obtaining crisis assessment and stabilization services for mental health and substance use, effective Oct. 1, 2021. This article provides additional details.

Our mobile crisis and crisis stabilization services help ensure that our Blue Cross and Blue Care Network commercial members who are in crisis get prompt and appropriate behavioral health treatment. These services can also help members avoid emergency room visits for mental health issues and substance use disorder, as well as unnecessary hospitalizations.

Central to the success of the program has been the establishment of facilities that provide high-quality mobile crisis and crisis stabilization services. Currently two facilities in Southeast Michigan meet the criteria to provide these services as part of our program: Common Ground Resources and Crisis Center, and Hegira Health’s COPE, which stands for Community Outreach for Psychiatric Emergencies.

Here’s additional information about these centers:

Common Ground Resources and Crisis Center
Phone: 1-800-231-1127
Primary geographic areas covered: Oakland County, Macomb County, west of Macomb County

Hegira Health’s COPE
Phone: 1-734-721-0200
Primary geographic areas covered: Livonia, Wayne County

Currently, Blue Cross is in discussion with other facilities that are interested in providing such services. We also hope to expand these services to our Medicare Advantage members in the future.

“The beauty of these services is they can meet the member where they are and be accessed any way you need to access them,” said Dr. William Beecroft, medical director of behavioral health for Blue Cross.

They can be accessed by a health care provider, the member or other individuals. For example:

• A physician with a patient in crisis can contact one of these centers directly to have the patient be evaluated by a member of the mobile crisis team, either in person or by phone.
• An emergency department at a hospital can contact one of the centers to request assistance in evaluating the patient and determining the best course of treatment, placement and referrals.
• A member can call the number on the back of their ID card to connect with a Blue Cross case manager who can direct them to a crisis counselor at one of the participating facilities.
• Members can call one of the participating centers directly or simply walk into one of the crisis stabilization units.
• A law enforcement officer can call one of the centers for a behavioral health evaluation for a citizen in crisis.

“These services help ensure our members get treated at the right place at the right time and that they’re linked to the appropriate level of care and available community resources,” Beecroft said. “However, as part of the evaluation and treatment process, some members may still require psychiatric hospitalization as part of their treatment plan.”

Mobile crisis services

The mobile crisis mental health team may stay involved for two to four weeks after the initial encounter to ensure patients are connected to the right level of care for mental health or substance use issues.

Following the initial encounter, crisis stabilization services (formerly called psychiatric observation) may take place and include:

• Behavioral health evaluation to initiate appropriate treatment (similar to medical observation services)
• Physical site-based services that are necessary to support the mobile crisis team
• Services include intake assessment, psychiatric evaluation, crisis intervention, psychotherapy, medication administration, therapeutic injection, laboratory and imaging diagnostics, observation and peer support
• Linkages and “warm handoffs” to the appropriate level of care and community resources

Additional benefits

Here are some additional benefits of mobile crisis and crisis stabilization services:

• A speedy, specialty-focused and confidential assessment of their immediate behavioral health (mental health and substance use disorder) needs
• A multidisciplinary evaluation, including the services of a psychiatrist, which leads to a plan of care and placement in the appropriate level of care
• A positive, less stigmatizing experience than with some other systems of care.
• Rapid access to behavioral interventions, including medication, nursing care, psychotherapy and psychoeducation
• Alleviation of a sense of crisis, encouraging feelings of hope

Facilities that offer mobile crisis and crisis stabilization services must meet certain criteria. For example, they must be open 24/7 and incorporate the services of a multidisciplinary staff, including physicians, registered nurses, licensed master social workers, psychologists, clinical supervisors and additional support staff.

For more information

To learn more — or if you’re interested in joining the program as a facility offering these services — contact one of the following:

• Dr. William Beecroft at WBeecroft@bcbsm.com
• William Pompos at WPompos@bcbsm.com