COVID-19 Vaccine Town Halls Underway

Whether you hear myths on social media, at work, or from friends or family, there is a lot of dangerous misinformation out there about COVID-19 vaccines. The truth is that COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective, and rigorously tested. Ohio’s COVID-19 Vaccine Town Halls are designed to help you sift through the myths and learn where you can find reliable, trustworthy information about COVID-19 vaccines. You have questions, and the upcoming Town Halls will provide answers. Hear from medical experts, community leaders, and public health professionals. Visit the Ohio Department of Health’s COVID-19 Vaccine web page for more information about myths vs. facts.

 

• Tuesday, Feb. 23, 6:30 p.m. – Special focus on Hispanic/Latino Ohioans

• Monday, March 1, 6:30 p.m. – Special focus on Asian American and Pacific Islander Ohioans

• Tuesday, March 2, 6:30 p.m. – Special focus on Rural Ohioans

 

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/OHdeptofhealth/

• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/OhioDepartmentofHealth1

• Online - https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/townhall

Latest COVID-19 BH Provider Update

The latest COVID-19 Update for Ohio’s behavioral health provider network is now available. Click HERE to view.

OhioMHAS Research Published in Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health

A study authored by Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) Health Disparities and Equity Principal Investigator Surendra Bir Adhikari, Ph.D., Med.Soc., M.A., was recently published in the Journal of Immigrant of Minority Health. Dr. Adhikari’s study, Demographic and Psychosocial Factors Associated with Suicidal Ideation among Resettled Bhutanese Refugees, examines socio-demographic and psychosocial characteristics associated with the suicidal ideation among resettled Bhutanese refugees in the U.S. The study concludes that suicidal ideation among Bhutanese refugees is associated with a mental health history, low levels of social support, and post-settlement difficulties. Culturally and linguistically competent mental health prevention and treatment, and community support programs are required to support resettled refugees.

Ohio School Safety Center Releases 2020 Annual Report

The Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS) today released its 2020 Ohio School Safety Center (OSSC) Annual Report which demonstrates its ongoing commitment to school security during the COVID-19 pandemic when school threats and vulnerabilities shifted.

CBHC Medicaid Provider File Suspended for Maintenance

 

In March 2020, the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) stopped producing the “Universal Roster” of practitioners affiliated with behavioral health (BH) agencies (MITS provider types 84 and 95) and moved to the MITS Provider Master File (PMF) as the “system of truth” for Medicaid provider enrollment. (See MITS BITS here.) However, BH providers requested that ODM continue producing and updating the “CBHC Medicaid Provider File” listing all practitioners affiliated with behavioral health provider agencies. ODM has continued to produce and update the CBHC Medicaid Provider File as a convenience for provider agencies even though they have access to the same information via their secure MITS Portals by reviewing their “group members.” The previous CBHC Medicaid Provider File excluded providers whose revalidations dates had expired. However, revalidation dates are not applicable during the COVID public health emergency. Consequently, the current CBHC Medicaid Provider File is no longer accurate because it excludes practitioners who remain active in Ohio Medicaid. ODM staff are working on a solution to this problem, but until a solution can be developed and implemented, the CBHC Medicaid Provider File will be suspended. This issue should have no impact on MITS and Medicaid Managed Care Plan claims systems. During the public health emergency, both MITS and MCP claims systems should allow claims payment even when dates of service are outside a practitioner’s revalidation dates. Until the CBHC Medicaid Provider file is once again active, provider agencies can access provider information via their secure MITS portal.

New SAMHSA Publications

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration announced two new publications focused on prescription drug safety and Medication-Assisted Treatment.

• The Employee Assistance Program Prescription Drug Toolkit and Fact Sheets provide guidance related to counseling, referrals, and follow-up services (e.g., alternatives to prescription drugs, workplace drug misuse and relapse prevention, dangers of combined drug use, screenings, and evaluations before returning to work.)

• The Use of Medication-Assisted Treatment in Emergency Departments Guide examines emerging and best practices for initiating medication-assisted treatment in emergency departments. It also reviews the existing literature and science of the topic, identifies gaps in knowledge, and discusses challenges of implementation.

In the News

2.23.21 | Dayton Business Journal Region’s collaboration arming the mental health defenses

2.22.11 | Akron Beacon-Journal Ohio Enough is Enough offers help, hope to people society often abandons

2.22.21 | Columbus Dispatch Mental health care in the Black community: “It helps to see someone who looks like you”

2.22.21 | SpectrumNews1 Ohio’s equity push addresses dismal minority vaccination rates

2.22.21 | WLIO-TV Ohio Senate passes bill to improve access to mental health care

2.22.21 | OSU Lantern Student Wellness Center helps students improve relationships with drugs and alcohol

2.21.21 | Kent-Ravenna Record-Courier Ravenna-based Enough is Enough is helping people society often abandons

2.21.21 | WKBN-TV Local veterans use exercise to help deal with mental health

2.21.21 | Dayton Daily News Crisis intervention specialist helps Kettering police assess mental health calls

2.21.21 | ABC News Pandemic’s mental health toll heaviest among young adults

2.20.21 | Columbus Dispatch (column) OhioRISE will help youth with behavioral health challenges

2.20.21 | Hamilton Journal-News Hamilton students getting more involved in fight against vaping, drug use

2.16.21 | Perry County Tribune New treatment aimed at veterans