Mental Health Month was started in 1949 by the national organization Mental Health America to raise awareness about mental health conditions and the importance of good mental health for everyone. The 2020 Mental Health Month campaign is called #Tools2Thrive. It will provide practical tools that everyone can use to improve their mental health and increase resilience regardless of the situations they are dealing with. As a provider, you know that creating healthy routines, owning one’s feelings, and connecting with others can positively impact mental well-being, especially as we navigate through the health crisis caused by COVID-19.

To learn more about Mental Health Month, please visit: https://www.mhanational.org/mental-health-month.

In the spirit of encouraging mental well-being, BCBSRI encourages our primary care provider community to regularly screen for depression and substance use disorders.

Why screen for depression in primary care?

• The USPS Task Force has issued guidelines for universal depression screenings and stated that 100% of patients should be screened annually for depression.
• Depression is one of the most common chronic conditions across the population. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) estimates that 16 million American adults had at least one major depressive episode in the past year.
• Screening all patients for depression in primary care can be very useful. Most providers are able to easily identify their patients with severe depression. However, those with mild or moderate depression often go undetected. If mild or moderate depression is identified and discussed during a primary care appointment, it can be a relief to the patient to be able to discuss their feelings openly with the primary care provider and be given treatment options. It can also help the patient create an action plan that may help them avoid more severe depression, and the need for more intensive medical care, in the future.

Why screen for substance use disorders in primary care?

BCBSRI encourages all primary care providers to universally screen for substance use disorders using the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) model. SBIRT is an evidence-based practice used to identify, reduce, and prevent problematic use, abuse, and dependence on alcohol and illicit drugs. SBIRT consists of three major components:

• Screening – A healthcare professional assesses a patient for risky substance use behaviors using standardized screening tools.
• Brief intervention – A healthcare professional engages a patient showing risky substance use behaviors in a short conversation, providing feedback and advice.
• Referral to treatment – A healthcare professional provides a referral to brief therapy or additional treatment to patients who screen in need of additional services.

Screening for substance use disorders using the SBIRT model is a reimbursable service. Please refer to BCBSRI’s preventive services policies for commercial and Medicare members:

Commercial

Medicare

How do I connect a patient to behavioral health services?

The behavioral health system can be confusing and overwhelming for your patients to navigate. As BCBSRI continues to expand our continuum of services for behavioral health, we realize that providers may have questions regarding the types of services available for their patients. There are several ways to learn more about behavioral health benefits and services:

• The Provider Call Center can answer questions regarding a member’s benefits, including their liability for services. They can also assist if you’re simply looking for a participating behavioral health provider. You can contact the Provider Call Center at (401) 274-4848, or you can also search the Provider portal of bcbsri.com if you are looking for a behavioral health provider.
• The Beacon Health Options (Beacon) clinical referral line is available 24/7 and is answered by clinical behavioral health staff. The clinical referral line can assist you in identifying a behavioral health provider, as well as providing support and guidance. The clinical referral line should not be used if there is concern of imminent danger, but can be a first point of contact in non-emergency situations. The clinician—who may be a registered nurse, independently licensed social worker, or mental health counselor—will ask questions to get a better understanding of your patient’s needs. The clinician will provide information about services that are available and will offer the names and contact information for providers who offer these services. You can contact the Clinical Referral Line at 1-800-274-2958. You may also share this number with your patients if they prefer to contact Beacon themselves.
• The Beacon Health Options Intensive Case Management Program can assist your patients in effectively managing their behavioral health conditions. Independently licensed behavioral health clinicians will work with your patient to:
  • Help them understand barriers that prevent them from getting the most from their treatment or obtain recommended treatment.
  • Help them find and obtain services or resources needed to better manage their behavioral health condition.
  • Provide education and support to help them better manage their condition.
  • Coordinate care with providers to ensure they (and you) have the necessary information to provide them with the best care and support.
  • Work with them to ensure they know the medications they should be taking and understand the instructions you’ve provided to them.

To refer a patient to Beacon Health Options Intensive Case Management Program, please call 1-800-274-2958, option 2.

• Pediatric Psychiatry Resource Network – Another resource available to our pediatric primary care providers is the Pediatric Psychiatry Resource Network (PediPRN). PediPRN is an innovative model of telephonic consultation and collaboration between pediatric primary care and child psychiatry providers. PediPRN uses a telephonic integrated care model to improve access to quality behavioral health expertise. The service is free and provides all Rhode Island pediatric primary care providers assistance with the mental healthcare needs of their patients. Pediatric primary care providers can call PediPRN with a diagnostic or therapeutic question. PediPRN psychiatrists will return the call within 30 minutes. The team will assist in developing a care plan for children with various psychiatric diagnoses and complex clinical presentations. The care plan could include recommendations for psychopharmacology, therapeutic treatment, and supportive services in the community. The team will also sponsor educational opportunities by email and CME programs on pediatric psychiatry topics pertinent for the pediatric primary care community. PediPRN services are available weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., except for holidays. PediPRN is offered at three Lifespan affiliates: Bradley Hospital, Newport Hospital, and Rhode Island Hospital.

Any child or adolescent in Rhode Island is eligible for this free service, however PCPs must be registered for PediPRN in advance. PediPRN is designed to improve access to high-quality pediatric behavioral health services. For more information, please visit lifespan.org/centers-services/pediatric-psychiatry-resource-network-pediprn or contact PediPRN directly at (401) 432-1543 (1KID) or PediPRN@lifespan.org.

• Achieve Solutions – Achieve Solutions is a behavioral health and wellness website offered through BCBSRI’s behavioral health partner, Beacon Health Options. It helps individuals and families make informed decisions for their health and well-being and connects them to supportive services.

With more than 5,000 topical articles, educational resources, assistance materials, and self-assessment tools, Achieve Solutions helps our members to better cope with and manage their health concerns as well as everyday life challenges.

Providers can access content through Achieve Solutions at achievesolutions.net/achievesolutions/en/bcbsri/Home.do

• Behavioral health solutions at BCBSRI – In addition to offering traditional levels of behavioral healthcare, such as inpatient, outpatient, and professional services, BCBSRI, in collaboration with community-based partners, has created a suite of behavioral health solutions for our members with complex behavioral health challenges. The chart below provides an overview of some of our innovative offerings, the populations these programs serve, and which BCBSRI members can access these services.