Access: Mental Health

Mental Health

MHCP Shared Mental Health Access Priorities

The Milwaukee Health Care Partnership (MHCP) members and affiliates have identified provider-driven strategies to improve access and coordination of behavioral health care, with a focus on low-income and vulnerable populations and health equity.

The MHCP convenes the Behavioral Health Provider Steering Committee to lead and execute a comprehensive work plan that includes the following shared priorities and their associated tactics/initiatives:

• Ensure Access to Inpatient Services
  • Monitor and promote private health system inpatient capacity – WHAIC Psychiatric Bed Locator
  • Support coordination of adult and youth inpatient services with BHS and Granite Hills Hospital
  • Monitor state inpatient capacity and regulations
• Expand Outpatient Capacity
  • Promote integrated primary care / mental health
  • Support telemedicine and teleconsultation services
  • Promote participation and enrollment in Comprehensive Community Services (CCS)
  • Support expansion of Outpatient services via FQHCs, health systems and community providers
• Improve Psychiatric Crisis Services Delivery System
  • Joint venture Mental Health Emergency Center – Now Open
  • Support service enhancements – Crisis Resource Center expansion, Mobile Crisis, Team Connect/Transition Care Management, Private Hospital ER Capabilities
  • Implement new services – FQHC/BHS Access Clinics, telehealth and other HIT, air traffic control, transportation
  • Enhance child/adolescent crisis delivery model
  • Ensure access to high-acuity inpatient beds via Granite Hills
• Enhance Service Navigation
  • Strengthen information and referral capabilities
  • Improve health information exchange
  • Embed peer support services
  • Rationalize care coordination “system”
• Provide Input to Public Policy and Regulatory Reforms
  • Increase Medicaid reimbursementImprove telepsychiatry/teleconsultation regulationUpdate DHS 35 and 75 rules/regulations
  • Promote housing navigation and subsidies
• Support Workforce Development
  • Pipeline programs
  • Increase clinical practicums for all disciplines
  • Advocate for licensure/credentialing/regulatory improvements
  • Provider trauma education and supports

Studies and Research

Since 2008, the MHCP has worked with the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division to advance research as a foundation for the community’s journey toward an accessible, effective, recovery-oriented, and patient-centered system of care for individuals with mental health and substance abuse needs. Supported by a broad array of funders and community stakeholders, the MHCP has commissioned three behavioral health studies, facilitated by the Wisconsin Policy Forum and conducted by the Human Services Research Institute.

The most recent Outpatient Capacity Study explores the variety of clinical behavioral health services and programs that are provided outside of inpatient settings and are deemed essential for a comprehensive system of care, especially for low-income populations.  It outlines a series of recommendations to address both system fragmentation and provider shortages, as well as issues related to technology, reimbursement strategies, and integrated care in patient-centered medical homes.

Previous research commissioned by the MHCP includes a comprehensive Adult Mental Health Redesign study released in 2010 and an adult Inpatient Bed Capacity Analysis released in 2014.

Investments

Since 2008, Milwaukee’s health systems have contributed nearly $4.5 million in shared community investments to expand access to behavioral health services at community clinics and other partners.