Indiana Council 2020 Fall Quarterly Meeting

The Indiana Council of Community Mental Health Centers is pleased to offer an important virtual Quarterly Meeting focused on understanding the impact of COVID on the healthcare industry and opportunities for improved access to care in a post-COVID healthcare environment. At the Quarterly Meeting we will focus on ensuring accountability and transparency in the use of federal COVID funds. You will hear from State Agency leaders on the impact of COVID on governmental services and opportunities to develop best practices based on lessons learned. You will also hear directly from the Managed Care Entities (MCEs) leadership on the impact of COVID on managed care and how the shift to telehealth services may impact the delivery of services in the future. We have also scheduled an update from statewide health leaders on the impact of COVID on hospitals and Medicaid enrollment.

The meeting is being held virtually to ensure the safety of all participants. Nevertheless, it will be an interactive meeting, with lots of opportunity for presenter input and feedback. Given the remote nature of the meeting, the Indiana Council costs are lower, resulting in reduced registration and greater opportunity for employee registration and engagement as well as giving the Indiana Council the opportunity to offer special pricing for this event. This “high-level” briefing on the impact of COVID on the healthcare industry will provide community mental health center executives and staff a better understanding of how shifts may occur in the delivery of healthcare services in a post-COVID environment. Please plan to attend and stay engaged through the entire day of sessions. We will also be offering a special “Virtual Retirement Reception” for Paul Kuczora, who is retiring after many years of dedicated service to the community mental health center system.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the way the community mental health center system has responded to the COVID pandemic. From the start of COVID, CMHCs have been at the forefront of the crisis, ensuring individuals with behavioral and addiction challenges have access to services. This conference is designed to understand how health systems responded to the crisis, what lessons were learned along the way, and what the future holds for the future of behavioral health in a post-COVID healthcare environment. We have scheduled many statewide leaders in healthcare to assist in your understanding of the complexities in managing this unprecedented time in our history. We look forward to sharing important and timely information with you.”

Ensuring the accountability for federal COVID funds for community mental health centers is vitally important. This session is designed to provide important information on the methods and importance of accounting for federal COVID, requirements around their use, and an understanding of potential audit considerations in the management of funds. Given the lack of clarity around the release of federal COVID relief funding, it is incumbent upon community mental health centers to take the initiative to account for all funding and efforts to demonstrate their effective use.

The Indiana Hospital system has been uniquely challenged during COVID in order to ensure the health and safety of Indiana’s citizen through access to care. As such, hospitals had to ensure services were being carried out while hospital workers were at uncertain risk, and financial reimbursement considerations were unknown. Clearly, Indiana’s hospitals deserve incredible kudos for the manner in which they have responded to the pandemic. Hear directly from the leader of the Indiana Hospital Association as he describes first-hand the issues and challenges facing Indiana’s hospital system through the pandemic and opportunities for improved healthcare delivery in a post-COVID environment.

Hear from the leader of Indiana Medicaid as she describes how her agency has responded to the COVID pandemic. Indiana Medicaid deserves our sincere thanks for the manner and speed with which they applied for and received a federal Medicaid waiver for services during COVID. Through this waiver, Indiana’s community mental health providers are able to carry out critical telehealth services while ensuring our consumers continue to receive access to care. Given the success of telehealth services, it is expected the future healthcare environment will continue utilizing this approach to treatment as one tool in the toolbox in the delivery of services for behavioral health providers. Attend this session to get a better understanding of the impact COVID has on Medicaid and expectations for the future.

The Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA) has worked tirelessly through COVID to ensure consumer’s receiving services through the community mental health center system and beyond continue without interruption. DMHA has consistently worked with community mental health during COVID to ensure information is being shared effectively and grants programs in support of COVID related activities are enhancing consumer access to treatment. Hear from the leader of DMHA as he describes his agency’s effort under COVID and the challenges and opportunities it has created for the future.

Managed Care Entities (MCEs) have worked effectively during COVID to ensure a continuity of reimbursement and consumer engagement. COVID created unique challenges for MCEs in managing individual care while access to services was limited during the initial viral outbreak. MCEs were further challenged with system and administrative changes as a result of COVID. Hear from the leaders of Indiana's four MCEs who will describe how COVID impacted their specific organizations and how the changes in healthcare delivery will influence behavioral health providers into the future.

Medicaid enrollment is a critical factor in the ability of community mental health centers to provide effective treatment. COVID has created unique challenges in Medicaid enrollment, as more unemployed individuals are seeking publicly funded healthcare services. Hear from a statewide leader on Medicaid enrollment, who will provide an overview on the latest Medicaid enrollment trends under COVID and how these trends may impact the ability of individuals to receive behavioral health treatment.

Please join us for a special Indiana Council virtual reception event, honoring the retirement of Paul Kuczora. Paul has worked in community mental health throughout his professional career and his tireless dedication has been focused on serving consumers suffering with behavioral health challenges. Paul has been an active voice on policy matters impacting the community mental health center system and has made important contributions to the system in place today. Please plan to attend this session, grab your favorite beverage after a day full of meetings, and toast one the greats in the history of the community mental health center system in Indiana, Paul Kuczora!

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