OCCMHA Merges PACE Substance Use and Mental Health Service Access Teams

Beginning October 1, 2016, Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority (OCCMHA) is merging the County’s current entry point to substance use services, PACE (Prior Authorization & Central Evaluation), with its non-emergency access division for public mental health services.

Following the merger, which is the final phase of a formal transition of substance use services to the public mental health system, PACE will be referred to as OCCMHA Access.

“A tremendous amount of planning and consideration is necessary anytime a change in service delivery or access occurs,” explains OCCMHA Executive Director and CEO, Willie Brooks. “This is one reason we chose to implement the transition of substance use services to the public mental health system in strategic stages, concluding with the establishment of a single entry point where people can be connected to both mental health and substance use assistance with one phone call.”

While the current telephone number used by PACE still works, the official telephone number for access to substance use services is now (248) 464-6363. This is the same contact number currently being used for non-emergency, access and eligibility to Oakland County’s public mental health system.

“Keeping the needs of people first throughout the decision making process, we felt it imperative that staff members from the mental health and substance use access teams be appropriately trained before bringing them together as one,” explains Cathie Yunker, administrator of Access and Acute Care for OCCMHA. “The benefit of course to people in the community is that instead of potentially being transferred between either the mental health or substance use service networks, their needs can be evaluated and addressed by the first person they speak with or meet face-to-face.”

The location of the new, single-sourced access team will be located at the Resource and Crisis Center on the Oakland County government campus where both teams have been housed for more than two years.

Billboard and bus advertisements are being used to launch a county wide campaign in October to promote the non-emergency access number for developmental disability, mental health, and substance use public mental health services.

“Awareness and community outreach efforts are key factors in educating people about the valuable resources available to them in our county,” says Christina Nicholas, administrator of Substance Use Disorder Prevention and Treatment Services for OCCMHA. “The journey toward recovery for individuals with substance use and mental health disorders begins with knowledge about and connection to quality, providers that belong to our service network.”

The initial move of substance use services from the Health Division to OCCMHA took place in October 2014. The mandated change resulted from a 2012 amendment to Michigan’s Mental Health Code requiring all Substance Abuse Coordinating Agencies (CAs) merge with the state’s 10 Prepaid Inpatient Health Plans (PHIP). OCCMHA is a Michigan PIHP.

The last phase of the transition began in February 2016 when OCCMHA assumed responsibility for screening and treatment coordination formerly performed by PACE.

“Adding substance use services to the public mental health network has proven to be a substantial benefit to people in our community who have a substance use disorder, as well as a mental illness or a developmental disability,” adds Brooks. “The collaboration has enhanced our ability to ensure that both their mental health and substance use service needs are met more efficiently and effectively.”