MINUTES
Moving Forward with Healthcare Reform
September 18, 2013
I.
Opening and Introductions.
Beth Monteverde and Brandi Phillips welcomed attendees and summarized events to
date. They informed the group that AHCI sponsored two sessions in January during
which Ron Mandersheid taught area BH Leaders about the ACA and healthcare reform.
Then, that CAP posted a Letter of Interest, interviewed candidates and hired a Chief
Strategy Officer to assist Allegheny County providers with implementation of healthcare
reform. The Steering Committee met on August 7 with Croze Consulting to develop a plan
of action. CAP thanked AHCI for their support. Brandi welcomed the group, provided a
brief overview of the upcoming day and introduced Croze Consulting.
II.
The ACA and Health Reform: Challenges for Behavioral Health Providers
Colette Croze addressed the group and provided an overview of provisions of the ACA
relevant to today’s presentations, and a recommendation for a fearless inventory of
programs and services. She outlined the challenges for providers; including the reality of
more patients, frequent coverage changes and the need for more efficiency. She shared
innovations in primary care, like Minute Clinics, Tracfone and remote health monitoring.
Colette presented information about PA’s direction and shared information about the
needs of primary care providers. The Triple Aim was reviewed, with its goals presented
as a fundamental framework for providers to work within. Colette then recommended
ways to give better access to MH treatment and get aligned across the behavioral health
system.
III.
Forbes Funds New Focus Based on Changing Market Forces
Kate Dewey, President of The Forbes Fund, addressed attendees with a discussion of key
trends in the current environment, including ACA, reduced government funds, scientific
discoveries, technologic innovation and recruiting/retaining talent. Critical factors for
success in the current behavioral health environment were offered including effective
boards, strategic leadership, and performance metrics. The Forbes Fund was presented
as a resource for providers and support was offered to assist with essential changes
within the sector by providing assistance to organizations with solutions. She presented
SIMS (State Innovations Model work group), and their observations and local application.
She made a recommendation that providers organize as a sector and offer efficient and
high quality services.
IV.
Capitalizing on Reform
Nina Korsh gave a slide presentation prompting agencies to consider four key questions.
She assisted providers in considering their:
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Future organizational affiliations
Revenue sources
Relationships with primary care and specialty care
Their upcoming organizational structure.
MINUTES
Each of the other three consultants discussed common challenges of reform and
provided a specific example of an organization that had constructively met these
challenges. They highlighted the need for organizations to:
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Evaluate services and needs
Put egos aside to openly discuss new approaches
Be willing to adapt to a changing environment and develop collaborations and
mergers
Improve the quality and efficiencies of services
Involve Boards in decisions
Have some willingness to take risk and invest corporate resources
These solutions were offered as keys to being successful in today’s market.
V.
How Will it Play in Pittsburgh: Facilitated Discussion
Participants broke into small groups to consider two questions:
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What does this mean for you (a publicly funded BH provider)?
From what you have heard, what are the next steps for your organization?
The small groups then reported back to all attendees on their ideas for answers to these
two questions
Next Steps identified by the group include:
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Educating the Board and Leadership team with data that will facilitate change.
Improving performance metrics in order to identify which programs are working.
Getting ready in the “back office” to increase patient flow.
Improving the quality of data for use with changes.
Identifying PCPs used by your consumers, consider contacting these about
partnerships.
Preparing the organizational culture for change, using data to demonstrate
results and value.
Thinking innovatively; taking advantage of improvements in technology.
Identifying the business development professionals who can assist with
discussions with insurance companies.
Keeping the discussions focused on patient needs.
Figuring out what the ACA means for children’s services.
Providers expressed the desire to know their payer mix, and market share. AHCI offered
to provide agencies with this data and any information that might assist agencies with
service evaluation, benchmarking and goal setting.
VI.
Summary and Homework Assignment: Preparing for Next Steps
MINUTES
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Victor Capoccia closed the meeting with a recommendation that providers find
out where their consumers get primary care services. He also suggested that
providers look at their service volume and payer mix for the last five years.
Consultants discussed the follow-up phone calls and generated an initial list of
topics. These calls are planned to occur as follows:
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10/15/2013
9:30-10:30 AM
Children’s Services Call: Croze
Consulting and Suzanne Fields (SAMHSA’s Director of Financing) will cover
Children’s Services and the ACA
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10/16/2013
1:00-2:00 PM
Values Propositions and Gap
Analysis: Croze Consulting to discuss and provide a template for providers to
complete
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10/17/2013
2:00-3:00 PM
Collaborations l: Croze Consulting
will host a call focused on creating administrative efficiencies.
10/22/2013
1:00-2:00 PM
Collaborations ll: Croze Consulting
will discuss provider partnerships.
Beth Monteverde closed the meeting and asked providers to fill out the
evaluations on their table or sent to them via email and return to AHCI for the
planning of the follow up calls.
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VII. Action Items:
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Croze Consulting will finalize topics and rework their scope and phases of service
and present to CAP Steering Committee.
Project Directors (Beth Monteverde and Tina Zimmerman) to send the evaluation
questions and homework to attendees.
Project Directors to send invitation to follow up calls to attendees.
Project Directors to compile evaluation results and send them to Croze
Consulting and Steering Committee by October 4 for use in follow up calls.
AHCI will assist agencies with data and data analysis as needed.