Brazos Valley
Mental Health Mental Retardation Authority Brazos Valley ¤ P. O. Box 4588 ¤ Bryan, TX 77805
MHMR Crisis Hotline : 1-888-522-8262
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1504 Texas Avenue
Bryan, TX 77802
PHONE
(979) 822-6467
FAX
(979) 361-9806
INFORMATION
WEBSITE COMMENTS
Jobs
Download Applicaton
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Local Network Development Plan - Draft FY2009-2010
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PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS DRAFT PLAN WILL BE ACCEPTED
THROUGH JULY 14, 2008.
PLEASE SUBMIT COMMENTS TO:
Email: LPND@MHMRABV.ORG
Fax: (979)361-9806, Attention: Provider Relations Department
Mail:
MHMR Authority of Brazos Valley
Provider Relations Department
P.O. Box 4588
Bryan, Texas 77805
Big Changes in Mental Health Services in Texas
One of the most significant changes coming out of the 80th Legislative Session was the resolution of the “Provider of Last Resort” language that came out of the 78th Legislative Session. Originally the Provider of Last Resort clause was thought to apply to mental retardation services only, but a clarification from the State Attorney General’s Office indicated that the new rule applied to Local Mental Health Authorities (LMHA) and the services they provide. Although this clause seemed clear on the surface, many factors complicated the interpretation of this legislation. Executive Directors of LMHA’s along with representatives of many other organizations, advocacy groups and members of several state agencies, worked together in a Negotiated Rule-Making Committee to define the nuts and bolts of the “Provider of Last Resort.” The guidelines were approved in the 80th Legislative Session and were signed into law by the Governor. The recommendations from the Negotiated Rule Making Committee became law (Section 533.035 of the Texas Health and Safety Code) and the process for implementing this law is now called Local Planning and Network Development (LPND).
The new law:
“articulates a clear preference for a system of service delivery in which consumers have choice from among multiple service providers and in which the LMHA’s role is to provide management and oversight.”
Further, the law:
“... charges LMHAs with the responsibility for ensuring that mental health services are provided in their local area and, further, requires LMHAs to consider public input, ultimate cost-benefit, and client-care issues to ensure consumer choice and the best use of public money in assembling a network of service providers.”
The State of Texas recognized that there was much diversity in LMHA service areas across the state (39 Centers) and determined that they could not develop a uniform schedule which could be used for all LMHA’s to move from being the primary provider of services to an overseer of services. Instead, the LPND process is to be used by LMHA’s to “ensure that LMHA decisions reflect an appropriate consideration of the diverse and often competing interests and needs of stakeholders at both the state and local level.” The LPND process must:
- Be public and transparent
- Solicit and respond to stakeholder comments at key points in the process
- Be approved by the Department of State Health Services
Ultimately the rule requires MHMR Authority of Brazos Valley to go through a local planning process to determine which of our services can be contracted with other service providers, determine our prioritization for contracting out other services in the future and to ensure that we are capable of serving as the “safety net” if contracted service providers were to end their contract. The process of Network Development is intended to be gradual over the next few years. The rule has many underlying purposes, but one of the most important is that we provide our clients and families with the opportunity for choice when they seek a service provider. We are unsure what type of provider response we will have during this process. Our plan however, is to find qualified service providers for clients and families to choose from when they have need for services.
MHMR Authority of Brazos Valley is in the first “cohort” of LMHA’s, which includes all of east and northeast Texas. Our timeline started March 1, 2008 and our plan must be completed and submitted to DSHS by August 31, 2008; most of MHMR Authority of Brazos Valley’s stakeholder input must be gathered by June 1, 2008. The local planning process must include key stakeholders which includes important advocacy organizations. MHMR staff will be seeking your input at one of many public meetings in the Brazos Valley service area and/or via survey beginning in April.
If you have questions or comments about the LPND process, you can contact Ruby Harris at 979-821-9419. There is an email account set up for comments that will be monitored by staff; it is LPND[at]mhmrabv.org
Stay tuned to our website for important information about the LPND stakeholder meetings and upcoming survey activities.