RECENT TAC HUMAN SERVICES PUBLICATIONS

California Mental Health and Substance Use System Needs Assessment Final Report: The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) contracted with the Technical Assistance Collaborative (TAC) and Human Services Research Institute (HSRI) to conduct a Mental Health and Substance Use System Needs Assessment and to develop a Mental Health and Substance Use Service System Plan. The primary purpose of the Needs Assessment was to review the needs and service utilization of current Medicaid recipients and identify opportunities to ready Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, for the expansion of enrollees and the increased demand for services resulting from health reform. For a copy of the Executive Summary click here. A copy of the full report can be found by going to the California Department of Health Care Services website located at: http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/provgovpart/Pages/BehavioralHealthServicesAssessmentPlan.aspx (2012)

 

Medicaid Eligibility: Enrollment Pathway Considerations for Vulnerable Populations: This brief provides an overview of the changes to Medicaid eligibility rules as part of health care reform and enrollment pathway considerations for people with disabilities. It also identifies ways that advocates and others interested in Medicaid benefit design and enrollment issues can help ensure that people with disabilities have the information they need to make an informed decision about the enrollment pathway that will lead to the benefit plan best suited to their needs. (2012)

 

Connecting with Medicaid: Strategies and options for providers of services to people who are homeless This brief summarizes various options for providers interested in establishing clearer pathways or connections with Medicaid, including key questions to consider for providers interested in delivering Medicaid services. This is the second in a series of briefs developed by the Technical Assistance Collaborative, Inc. (TAC) intended to assist advocates who work on behalf of people who are homeless, providers, and policy makers understand and capitalize upon opportunities in the ACA to prevent and end homelessness.

 

Federal Financing of Supported Employment and Customized Employment for People with Mental Illness: Final Report The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) in conjunction with the Federal Employment Workgroup on Disability commissioned a review of the federal financing mechanisms used by state agencies to implement the evidence-based employment models known as Individual Placement and Support (IPS) and Customized Employment (CE). This report identifies strategies for improved access to federal financing of IPS and CE services for persons with mental illness through case studies of current state and local practices. Through a subcontract with Westat, TAC staff contributed to this report by detailing how Medicaid resources can be used to finance supported employment. (2011)

 

Federal Human Service Resources Guide. This guide highlights a few of the programs administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that are relevant to the community support needs of low-income people with disabilities including people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. (2011)

 

The Oklahoma Enhanced Tier Payment System: Leveraging Medicaid to Improve Mental Health Provider Performance and Outcomes: The National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors commissioned TAC to author this case study of Oklahoma’s Enhanced Tier Payment System (ETPS). The ETPS leverages Medicaid dollars to incentivize providers for improving quality of care. The paper describes the overall ETPS system design, the stakeholder engagement process, and the process for obtaining approval from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). It also describes how the incentive payment process works, details some of the changes providers made to their operations and business practices, as well as summarizes lessons learned that can help other state mental health and Medicaid agencies maximize federal funding in order to drive quality and improve outcomes for people with mental health needs. (2011)

 

TAC Response to the Affordable Care Act: This document provides an overview of the opportunities and challenges state and local governments face in implementing the ACA and ways TAC can provide expert technical assistance and consultation on health reform. (2011)

 

How Healthcare Reform Strengthens Medicaid's Role in Ending and Preventing Homelessness: The first in a series of briefs intended to assist homeless providers, advocates, and policy makers to understand and capitalize upon opportunities in the ACA to prevent and end homelessness. (2011)

 

Turning Knowledge Into Practice: A Manual for Behavioral Health Administrators and Practitioners About Understanding and Implementing Evidence-Based Practices, 2nd Edition: A manual that can help make evidence-based practices work. (2010)

 

ALL HUMAN SERVICES PUBLICATIONS

A Community-Based Comprehensive Psychiatric Crisis Response Service: A manual to be used as a tool by any individual or group who is considering developing a new crisis service delivery system, expanding an existing crisis service system, or improving the effectiveness of an existing system. (2005)

Behavioral Health Needs and Gaps in New Mexico: A comprehensive assessment of behavioral needs and gaps in New Mexico stemming from legislative and executive branch direction and funded by multiple state agencies and managed care organizations. (2002)

 

Care Management, Case Management, and Utilization Review in a Managed Care Environment: This monograph describes the differences between these concepts and how they may be applied in a managed care environment.

 

Emerging Best Practices in Mental Health Recovery: A guide for consumers to increase their understanding of their roles in the recovery process and as advocates for the delivery of quality services by competent service providers. (1999)

 

Healthcare Reform and Benchmark Plans: Considerations for Advocates: This paper provides a brief overview of benchmark plans and a summary of issues for advocates and others who are interested in benefit design and enrollment issues for the newly eligible Medicaid population. (2011)

 

Leveraging Medicaid: A Guide to Using Medicaid Financing in Supportive Housing: This guide provides information on how to facilitate the use of Medicaid as a source of funding for services in permanent supportive housing. (2008)

 

Olmstead and Supportive Housing: A Vision for the Future: A "white paper" on best practices and future strategies to expand permanent supportive housing for people with disabilities covered by the U.S. Supreme Court's Olmstead decision. (2001)