Mount Carmel Health System and Thrive Peer Recovery Services Sign Progressive Contracts with Buckeye and CareSource to Serve Those in Need
Columbus, OH
Two Ohio insurers are using progressive contracts to pay for care for those individuals who present at a local hospital for mental health or substance use care. CareSource and Buckeye Health Plan, two managed care organizations in Ohio, have contracted with Thrive Peer Recovery Services, one of Ohio’s largest providers of peer support services to provide care inside Mount Carmel Behavioral Hospital.
Knowing that many people leave the hospital and do not make it to their recommended continuing care appointments, Thrive’s Community Linkage Program works with individuals through the period of transition from acute care to continuing care in the community. It starts by engaging the person while in the acute care setting and works towards a successful link to on-going care in the community.
A Certified Peer Recovery Supporter, or someone with lived experience with substance use or mental illness, employed by Thrive, comes to Mount Carmel Behavioral Hospital several days a week. The Peer Recovery Supporter connects to the individual presenting with a mental health or substance use emergency while they are on-site at the hospital. Certified Peer Recovery Supporters provide unique support in addition to traditional care management. Peer supporters spend time building trust and walk with individuals on their path to recovery. They support that person’s transition back into the community and connect them to on-going services, with the hope that additional support and resources can prevent the need for additional emergency services.
Individuals can face many challenges when it comes to attending recommended continuing care appointments following an inpatient hospitalization including, but not limited to, transportation, childcare, work obligations, etc. Individuals will work with a Thrive Peer Recovery Supporter for up to 90 days in the community. The program can assist with referrals to medical care or help coordinate any number of social determinants of health needs such as food, housing, or employment.
A Thrive Peer Recovery Supporter started working with Mount Carmel Behavioral Hospital in April and has served over 60 members in just 3 weeks. Thrive hopes to extend this service into other local hospitals within the next few months.
“Peer recovery supporters pull from their own lived experiences to provide unique support helping members navigate their recovery journey,” said Stephanie Stitt, Director of Behavioral Health, CareSource Ohio. “CareSource is excited about the impact this partnership will have on our members’ lives.”
“Buckeye is thrilled to expand the peer support program and provide assistance to our members who are most in need,” said Laura Paynter, Senior Director of Behavioral Health at Buckeye Health Plan. “Over the last 3 years, Buckeye’s program has helped over 400 members access mental health and substance use disorder services, connect to organizations that address health equity gaps, and provide relational and community supports and coaching to foster recovery.”
About Thrive Peer Recovery Services
Thrive Peer Recovery Services is a leading provider of mental health and substance use peer support services in Ohio. Certified Peer Recovery Supporters are individuals with a lived experience of mental health and/or substance use recovery who model and empower individuals to activate their own path of recovery by providing practical, social and emotional support. Thrive partners and coordinates peer services with health systems, the criminal justice system and providers in the behavioral health system. You can learn more at www.thrivepeersupport.com.
About Mount Carmel Behavioral Health
Mount Carmel Behavioral Health is an 80-bed treatment center that provides inpatient care for adults age 18 and older whose lives have been disrupted by a wide range of mental and behavioral health concerns. Inpatient treatment and the intensive outpatient program (IOP) at Mount Carmel Behavioral Health occur within a safe, highly structured, and extremely supportive environment. All individuals who take part in treatment at Mount Carmel Behavioral Health can expect to receive clinically superior services provided by experienced professionals in an atmosphere of dignity and respect. With state-of-the-art clinical spaces, comfortable patient rooms, and a host of inviting areas that allow for relaxation and reflection, Mount Carmel Behavioral Health is committed to helping each patient discover their healthiest self and live the life they deserve.
About CareSource
CareSource is a nonprofit, nationally recognized managed care organization with over 2.3 million members. Headquartered in Dayton, Ohio since its founding in 1989, CareSource administers one of the largest Medicaid managed care plans in the U.S. The organization offers health insurance, including Medicaid, Health Insurance Marketplace and Medicare products. As a mission-driven organization, CareSource is transforming health care with innovative programs that address the social determinants of health, health equity, prevention and access to care.
For more, visit www.caresource.com, follow @caresource on Twitter, or like CareSource on Facebook.
About Buckeye Health Plan (www.buckeyehealthplan.com)
Buckeye Health Plan offers managed healthcare for Ohioans on Medicaid, Medicare, integrated Medicaid-Medicare (called MyCare Ohio) and the Health Insurance Exchange. Since 2004, Buckeye has been dedicated to improving the health of Ohioans, many with low incomes, by providing coordinated healthcare and other essential support that individuals and families need to grow and thrive. Follow Buckeye on Twitter @Buckeye_Health and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/BuckeyeHealthPlan. Buckeye is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation, a leading multi-national healthcare enterprise offering core Medicaid, Medicare and specialty services.
