We’re continuing to grow our crisis services program

Our crisis services program, offering members who may be experiencing a mental health crisis a wider array of appropriate options, continues to grow. Two additional facilities recently joined the program:

• Community Mental Health Authority of Clinton, Eaton and Ingham Counties
• Northern Lakes Community Mental Health

Also, as we announced in an August Record article, the program is expanding to include our Medicare Advantage members (Medicare Plus Blue℠ and BCN Advantage℠), effective Jan. 1, 2024.

The crisis services facilities that are part of this program offer the following types of care options:

• Psychiatric urgent care
• Mobile crisis services
• On-site crisis stabilization services
• Residential crisis treatment

Our Help in times of crisis flyer includes details on the care options available at each of the eight facilities across Michigan that participate in the program, along with their contact information. We encourage you to print this flyer and share it with your patients.

In a crisis, members or other individuals — including family members, friends, law enforcement personnel or emergency department staff — can call the number of a crisis location in their service area for guidance. Walk-ins are also accepted at some locations.

“These options can be used in place of going to an emergency room as part of our ongoing efforts to hasten access to behavioral health-focused care,” said Dr. William Beecroft, medical director of behavioral health for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. “Our goal is to make sure our members get treated at the right place at the right time.”

A key component of this program is our mobile crisis services. Once a facility is contacted, a mobile unit may be deployed to offer both assessment and prompt treatment.

If you’re a health care provider interested in joining this program, send an email to Dr. William Beecroft at wbeecroft@bcbsm.com. Also, we’ll keep you informed as additional locations join this program.