Every September, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) sponsors National Recovery Month to increase awareness and understanding of mental and substance use disorders and celebrate the people who recover. This observance promotes the beliefs that behavioral health is essential to overall health, prevention works, treatment is effective, and people do recover from mental and/or substance use disorders.
BCBSRI has many resources available for our members with substance use disorders. In addition to covering traditional services that treat substance use disorders, such as inpatient detoxification and residential treatment, partial hospital programs, and intensive outpatient programs, BCBSRI offers the following innovative services.
CODAC Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Program
This is an outpatient Buprenorphine/Naloxone or Buprenorphine program offered by CODAC, a substance use disorder treatment facility. BCBSRI has partnered with Rhode Island’s first Center of Excellence (COE) for the treatment of opioid dependence to provide comprehensive medication-assisted treatment-related services to BCBSRI commercial members to facilitate recovery. The goal of the program is to offer structured and intensive treatment including medication-assisted treatment, such as Suboxone, nursing, counseling, and case management services that ultimately lead to recovery and the ability to maintain recovery in a less intensive treatment program.
If you wish to refer someone to the program, please contact CODAC at (401) 461-5056.
Peer recovery coaches
BCBSRI is piloting a program through Anchor Recovery/The Providence Center that will provide an opportunity for commercial members with substance use disorders to work with a peer recovery coach. Peer recovery coaching is a SAMHSA-recognized tool that facilitates recovery and reduces healthcare costs. Peer recovery coaches are individuals in recovery themselves who have been through extensive training to provide support to their peers. Recovery coaches do not diagnose or treat addiction, but rather serve as a bridge to substance use services and community supports.
To learn more about Anchor Recovery visit www.anchorrecovery.org. To learn more about the Peer Recovery Coach program, please contact Sarah Fleury, LICSW, CPHQ, behavioral health clinical program manager, at (401) 459-1384 or sarah.fleury@bcbsri.org.
HealthPath/HealthPath Connect
HealthPath is an innovative program, offered through a partnership between BCBSRI and Care New England, designed to provide BCBSRI members with comprehensive behavioral health services. The program highlights the benefits of team-based care through care delivery provided by a multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, nurses, independently licensed clinicians, peer support specialists, and substance abuse specialists. This team provides individualized office, home, or community-based services depending on the patient’s identified needs.
HealthPath offers clients access to psychiatric care, counseling, case management, health and wellness care, life skills support (including vocational and educational training), medication management, transportation to and from medical appointments as needed, and flexible appointment dates and times as well as weekend and holiday emergency care. The services are intended to assist members struggling with behavioral health conditions in reaching their highest level of functioning through a coordinated and individualized treatment approach.
HealthPath Connect offers members the same array of services as HealthPath but is intended for members who may need less intensive or less frequent services.
If you have a patient who you believe would benefit from HealthPath or HealthPath Connect, please contact Continuum Behavioral Health at (401) 415-8868 to schedule an intake appointment. Patients who present at intake and do not meet eligibility criteria will be referred to appropriate providers.
Behavioral Health Link (BH Link)
BH Link is a behavioral health facility under Community Care Alliance. BH Link services are designed to provide immediate assistance to commercial members experiencing a behavioral health or a substance use disorder crisis. A team of registered nurses, counselors, psychiatrists, phone screeners, and peer specialists provide 24/7 innovative crisis intervention services. To contact BH Link, please call (401) 414-5465.
AdCare of Rhode Island
AdCare of Rhode Island provides comprehensive substance use disorder treatment for adults at their Rhode Island locations. AdCare’s clinical team uses cognitive therapies to promote healthy decision making and develop solid coping strategies related to substance use. AdCare offers BCBSRI members inpatient withdrawal management, acute residential treatment, partial hospital programs, intensive outpatient programs, and outpatient professional services. AdCare provides inpatient services at their North Kingstown location, and outpatient services in their Warwick, North Kingstown, Greenville, South Kingstown, and Portsmouth locations. To speak with a professional at AdCare, please call 1-800-747-6237.
Phoenix House
Phoenix House provides comprehensive, patient-centered substance use disorder treatment for adults at their location in Exeter, Rhode Island. Phoenix House provides a wide array of services including withdrawal management, residential treatment, and outpatient treatment. To contact Phoenix House, please call 1-888-671-9392.
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 Physician & Provider Call Center [(401) 274-4848 or 1-800 230-9050 for out of state providers] can answer questions regarding a member’s benefits, including member liability for services. They can also assist if you’re simply looking for a participating behavioral health provider. You can also search BCBSRI.com if you are simply 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. It 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 a mental health counselor will ask questions to get a better understanding of your patient’s needs. The clinician will provide you with 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.
- 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 in obtaining recommended treatment.
- Help them find and obtain services or resources needed to better manage their behavioral health condition.
- Provide education and supports to help them better manage their condition.
- Coordinate care with providers to ensure you and your patient 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 the Beacon Health Options Intensive Case Management Program, please call 1-800-274-2958, option 2.
You may also use our automated referral form at BCBSRI.com by following these easy steps:
1. Log on to the provider portal of BCBSRI.com.
2. Click on Tools and Resources.
3. Click on Forms.
4. Click on Case Management Request.
5. Complete the required fields and click Go!