The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) selected four providers to operate Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) in state-run service areas, according to a July 7 news release from the agency.
Here are four things to know:
- Family and Children’s Services in Tulsa was selected for Catchment Area 3, Grand Mental Health in Tulsa for Catchment Area 4, Lighthouse Behavioral Wellness Centers in Ardmore for Catchment Area 5 and Creoks Health Services in Tulsa for Catchment Area 6. The organizations will take over operations through a phased transition expected to unfold over the next several months.
- ODMHSAS said it will coordinate with each provider on workforce planning, operational preparation and efforts to maintain uninterrupted care during the transition. Providers also are required to offer available positions to qualified ODMHSAS employees as hiring moves forward, according to the release.
- The contracts affect only the four state-operated CCBHC service areas. ODMHSAS said it will continue managing the state’s hospitals, forensic and crisis services, and other behavioral health programs, adding that patients will not experience immediate changes in care as the transition is carried out in phases.
- ODMHSAS framed the move as part of a broader push to strengthen the long-term sustainability of the state’s behavioral health system and make more efficient use of taxpayer funding, while aiming to preserve access to high-quality care under the new provider model.
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