>>> Reporting Without Stigma: Ohio Releases Resource for Journalists

Ohio is working to change the way society views mental illness and substance use disorders. Governor Mike DeWine’s RecoveryOhio initiative, the Ohio Attorney General’s Task Force on Criminal Justice and Mental Illness, and the Ohio Opioid Education Alliance have created Reporting About Substance Use and Mental Health: A Resource for Media Professionals as a tool to help journalists, producers and other media professionals reduce the use of potentially stigmatizing language or imagery in news and media coverage. The influence media portrayals have on public perception make accurate and compassionate depiction of addiction and mental illness extremely important. The guide was developed as a collaboration among several renowned substance use and mental health doctors, veteran journalists and nationally recognized media relations professionals in the public and private sector. It provides an in-depth look at stigmas and how media professionals, often unknowingly, use them in their imagery and language. The resource offers alternatives that allow accurate reporting and storytelling on mental illness and addiction without stigmatizing the conditions.

>>> 2022 Heat Related Illness Brochure Available on OhioMHAS Website

With temperatures and humidity rising rapidly, and warm summer weather settling in, Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) Medical Director Justin Trevino, M.D., recently announced that the 2022 Heat Related Illness brochure is now available on the department website. This resource describes common heat related illnesses -- such as heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heat stroke -- and includes symptoms, warning signs and prevention tips. It also describes risk factors and includes a list of common psychotropic medications that may impair a person’s heat response. Please take time to review and share this resource with your colleagues. Please take care during this time of extreme heat and remember to Stay Cool, Stay Hydrated, and Stay Informed. Learn more about heat-related illnesses and how to stay cool and safe: https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/features/extremeheat/index.html.

>>> New Design for Ohio’s Suicide Prevention Website

Ohio’s Suicide Prevention website has a fresh new look and feel. All of the information that is needed can still be found on this clean, mobile-friendly website. Each year, thousands of individuals die by suicide, and no age, gender, race or ethnicity is immune. This site guides community members and school officials through actionable ways to help prevent suicide. Learn more at https://suicideprevention.ohio.gov/.

>>> Benefit Coordination, Billing Updates from Ohio Department of Medicaid

Updates to Coordination of Benefit Requirements

OAC 5160-1-08 sets forth the conditions under which the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) will reimburse for medically necessary covered services after a provider takes reasonable measures to obtain all third-party payment. Effective Nov. 29, 2019, based on temporary permission from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), ODM amended OAC rule 5160-27-03 to add an exception to allow community behavioral health providers to submit a claim for Medicaid reimbursement when the provider had billed a third party, the third party had not paid the claim within 30 days, and the provider had concerns regarding the recipient's access to care. Effective July 1, 2022, OAC 5160-27-03 will be amended to remove this provision. Beginning on July 1, 2022, community behavioral health providers are required to follow standard third-party payment requirements for Medicaid providers outlined in OAC rule 5160-1-08.

Reminder for BH Billing Agencies to Update Affiliations With Their Practitioners

Medicaid enrolled behavioral health agencies are required to maintain an up-to-date roster of employees who are affiliated with the billing agency.  This includes end dating affiliations with employees who have left the agency. Affiliating agency employees in MITS has always been a self-service function available to Agency MITS Administrators and Designees who have access to the agency’s secure MITS portal. (Training on how to affiliate an employee with a billing agency is available at BH.Medicaid.Ohio.gov under the “Provider > Training Opportunities” link.)

As part of the MITS system transition to the new Provider Network Management and Fiscal Intermediary systems, ODM is end dating agency affiliations in cases where a practitioner is no longer actively enrolled in Ohio Medicaid. Agency MITS administrators may notice this update. If a practitioner re-activates enrollment in Ohio Medicaid, previous agency affiliations will no longer be active. The agency affiliation will need to be completed after the practitioner enrollment has been reactivated.

To confirm the current affiliation of employees with an employing/billing agency, MITS administrators or designees can:

1. Check the “Group Member” panel in your agency’s secure MITS Portal (refer to Training Opportunities at BH.Medicaid.Ohio.Gov)  or
2. View the Community Behavioral Health Center (CBHC) Practitioner Enrollment Files (one for provider type 84 and one for provider type 95) posted weekly at BH.Medicaid.Ohio.Gov.   

• Search for active providers and active affiliations by referring to the “active” tab.  
• To search for providers in “inactive status” with ODM by referring to the “inactive” tab. 

If you have a change request regarding an existing Medicaid provider, please email that request to medicaid_provider_update@medicaid.ohio.gov.

If you have additional questions about practitioner enrollment, please contact the ODM Provider Enrollment Section by calling 1.800.686.1516, Option 3.

>>> OhioRISE Community and Provider Module 4 Training – June 21

ODM will host Module 4 of the OhioRISE community and provider training series on June 21 from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. This module includes a panel discussion with a Care Management Entity (CME) and local system partners to discuss the system of care and supporting youth and families/caregivers in OhioRISE. All local system community partners and providers who serve multisystem youth are encouraged to attend. ODM is also inviting youth and families to attend. Click the link above to register. The training recording will be available on the OhioRISE webpage following the live session if you are unable to attend. Office hours will be held on June 27 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. and 3:30-4:30 p.m., and on June 28 from 9-10 a.m. to provide opportunities to ask questions to OhioRISE subject matter experts. Please view ODM’s OhioRISE community and provider training series announcement on the OhioRISE webpage on managedcare.medicaid.ohio.gov and direct any additional OhioRISE questions to OhioRISE@medicaid.ohio.gov.

>>> FOA Announces Second Annual “Rally 4 Recovery” Event In Van Wert – July 9

Families of Addicts (FoA) Van Wert will present its second annual Rally 4 Recovery on July 9 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. at Fountain Park. The family-friendly event celebrates individuals and families in recovery and brings awareness to addiction treatment and recovery. The day will feature a variety of inspiring speakers, resource tables, food, entertainment, and include naloxone education and distribution. Follow FOA Van Wert on Facebook for more information and updates, or contact Shane Manson at 419.203.0200, shane.manson@foafamilies.org.

>>> 20th Annual NADD State of Ohio MI/ID Conference – July 11-13

There’s still time to register to attend the 20th Annual NADD State of Ohio MI/ID Conference, which will be held virtually on July 11-13. All administrators, behavior support specialists, psychologists, direct care professionals, physicians, educators, residential providers, family members, social workers, nurses, students, persons with disabilities, researchers, vocational staff, psychiatrists, therapists, criminal justice systems personnel, employment specialists, case managers, and client coordinators are invited to attend. Cost for NADD members is $160 ($200 for non-members). Click HERE to view the registration brochure and HERE to register online.

>>> Call for Workshop Proposals: 2022 Virtual Peer Recovery Support Conference – Aug. 23-24

Save the date! The OhioMHAS Bureau of Recovery Supports will host the 2022 Virtual Peer Recovery Support Conference on Aug. 23-24. This year’s theme is “Uplifting Resiliency: A Vital Role of a Peer Recovery Supporter.” The purpose of this conference is to expand knowledge skill and introduce new innovative ideas for peers to utilize to cultivate recovery. This is a comprehensive opportunity for peers to come together collectively as one body to network, and exchange concepts as it relates to personal recovery, resiliency, and delivering peer services. Conference organizers are now accepting workshop proposals from anyone interested in presenting at this year’s conference. All sessions will be 55 minutes in length. Presenters are encouraged to design their workshop to promote learners feeling comfortable, and to include movement, interaction, and active participation. Workshop proposals must be submitted by July 10 to peerservices@mha.ohio.gov. Selection of presenters will be announced July 16.

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