HJBR Jul/Aug 2022

36 JUL / AUG 2022  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE   Healthcare Briefs to the healthcare provider(s) that achieves the highest scores in key Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) quality mea- sures across the health plan’s network. With offices in Alexandria, Pineville, and Marks- ville, Mansoor Pediatrics serves approximately 5,000 patients with compassionate care, provid- ing extended hours and professional staff at all of their clinics. Mansoor Pediatrics scored the high- est among Louisiana Healthcare Connections’ network of nearly 40,000 providers in measures like immunizations, well-care visits, and follow- up with patients. “We appreciate Dr. Mansoor and the staff at Mansoor Pediatrics for sharing our commitment to providing for the health of families in Louisi- ana,” said Stewart Gordon, MD, chief medical officer at Louisiana Healthcare Connections. “This award acknowledges the efforts made to provide exemplary pediatric care, and we are pleased to recognize Mansoor Pediatrics for their dedication to our members.” LDHOffice of Behavioral Health Introduces Louisiana Crisis Response SystemServices The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH)’s Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) is expanding services to Louisiana Medicaid members expe- riencing a mental health crisis with the phased implementation of a comprehensive crisis sys- tem of care, a critical goal identified in LDH’s fis- cal year 2022 business plan. These services are directly correlated to LDH’s DOJ agreement, and are critical to LDH’s compliance with the agreement. Mobile crisis response, community brief crisis support, and behavioral health crisis care are the first three of four Medicaid services affiliated with the Louisiana Crisis Response System (LA-CRS), a coordinated approach to crisis services that builds upon the unique and varied strengths, resources, and needs of Louisiana’s local communities. The fourth service, crisis stabilization, will be phased in at a later date pending legislative funding. Individuals experiencing a psychiatric crisis can access services until the crisis is resolved and/or the person returns to existing services or is linked to other behavioral health supports as needed. OBH will expand services to every region during a phased-in rollout. “Experiencing a mental health crisis can be frightening and confusing, especially when the individual feels that they have no control over their own treatment. We know that safety and trust are critical to successfully navigating such a crisis. With the introduction of the Louisiana Crisis Response System, Louisianans enrolled in Med- icaid will have access to a continuum of rapid, coordinated services delivered in a way that best allows them to remain in their communities,” said LDH Secretary Courtney N. Phillips, PhD. “Louisiana has the opportunity to fully develop its crisis response network. When we started this initiative, no communities had access to the full continuum of services envisioned by LDH,” said Assistant Secretary Karen Stubbs, Office of Behavioral Health. “However, some providers and communities demonstrated readiness to expand crisis response services through existing niche programming with robust collaboration and buy- in from crucial partners such as law enforcement, hospital systems, and local resource centers.” LA-CRS SERVICES Through the implementation of the Louisiana Crisis Response System, individuals ages 21 and older who are served by one of the five Medicaid Healthy Louisiana plans and experiencing emo- tional distress will have access to a continuum of voluntary crisis services that are built on prin- ciples of recovery and which aim to divert from unnecessary hospitalizations and institutional lev- els of care. Services offered by the Louisiana Crisis Response System include: • Mobile crisis response: A service that is available as an initial intervention for indi- viduals in a self-identified crisis, in which teams deploy to where the individual is located in the community. • Community brief crisis support: A face-to- face ongoing crisis intervention response, designed to provide stabilization and sup- port in the community subsequent to the initial intervention. • Behavioral health crisis care: A facility-based walk-in center providing short-term behav- ioral health crisis intervention, offering a community based voluntary home-like alter- native to more restrictive settings. • Crisis stabilization: Short-term, bed-based crisis treatment and support service for indi- viduals who have received a lower level of crisis service and are at risk of hospitaliza- tion or institutionalization, including nurs- ing home placement (funding requested for state fiscal year 2023). “You never know when a mental health crisis may affect you or someone you love. However, Satish Gadi, MD, interventional cardiologist at Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS), and team use the Venclose Maven Perforator Catheter to treat venous disease.