Friday, November 20, 2015

Michigan: Washtenaw County's New Community Mental Health Agency and PIHP

As of October 1, 2015, the Washtenaw Community Health Organization (WCHO) ceased to exist as the county's community mental health agency. Washtenaw County Community Support and Treatment Services (CSTS) has become the new Washtenaw County Community Mental Health (WCCMH). The agency is now under the control of the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners, although the agency may seek to become an independent mental health authority in future years. 

WCCMH provides mental health services to adults with a severe and persistent mental illness, children with a severe emotional disturbance, and individuals with a developmental disability, residing in the county.

This is the list of current WCCMH Board members with contact information. The Board meets on the third Friday of the month from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Learning Resource Center at 4135 Washtenaw Avenue in Ann Arbor. This is a link to a schedule of Board and committee meetings. The new Board is learning about the intricacies of the State and local CMH system - this is a good time for families and local organizations to attend Board meetings, introduce yourself to the Board, and learn more about how the service delivery system works in Washtenaw County.

Links to WCCMH information:
The Prepaid Inpatient Health Plan (PIHP) is now the Community Mental Health Partnership of Southeast Michigan (CMHPSM). The PIHP, one of ten in the state, is a regional administrative entity that distributes Medicaid funds to its local partners, the Community Mental Health agencies for Washtenaw, Lenawee, Livingsston, and Monroe Counties. The reorganization of PIHPs and the reduction in number of PIHPs from 18 to 10 has been a somewhat easier transition for our region because the same counties participate in the PIHP as did under the old system. 

These are links to information about the CMHPSM and some of the services it provides:

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