Georgia Coalition Older Adults and Mental
Health
Meeting Minutes – April 13, 2015
PRESENT
Eve Byrd, Fuqua Center for Late-Life Depression
Jay Bulot, Ph.D., DAS
Cathy T Rambach, Fuqua Center for Late-Life Depression
Cynthia Haley Dunn, DAS
Jocelyn Wise, Fuqua Center for Late-Life Depression
Alix LeCher, Family Member
Laura LeCher, Family Member
Angela Johnson, DAS
Sarah Ekart, DAS
Cheryl Harris, DAS
Hershel Allen, Older Adult Rep
Elizabeth Head, DPH
Lisa Dawson, DPH
BY PHONE
Dr. Adrienne Mims, GMCF
Linda Cugley, GMCF
Veronica Rohrlack, DBHDD
Babs Hall, SOWEGA Council on Aging
Brian Bruggeman, Three Rivers AAA - ADRC
Faith Health Services, Norcross
WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS
Eve Byrd welcomed the members present and thanked everyone for their involvement with the
Coalition and expressed appreciation for their continued interest.
We are a Coalition of agencies charged with creating a plan for cross training between DAS and DBHDD
aimed at improving capacity for our state to care for older adults with mental illness – we are not
creating a separate system, rather we are trying to grow capacity to care for those in the system who
are aging. Eventually this will expand to other areas including Public Health. We are also looking at any
policy issues that might need to be addressed that are perceived to impact the care of older adults in
the public MH system.
CROSS-EDUCATIONAL FOCUS
DBHDD
• We have worked with Jill Mays to have 5 DBHDD staff identified to attend the July 17-19, 2015 ADRC
Healthy Communities Summit. Part of our work is to have the 2 groups (DAS and DBHDD) interact
and work through barriers so together they can better serve consumers who have a mental illness.
DAS is waiving the registration fee and providing these 5 slots to DBHDD free of charge. This
conference is geared toward those working in the aging and DBHDD networks.
•
Discussion on accessing GCAL from the caregiver perspective was discussed. The LeCher sisters
mentioned that this resource was not brought to their attention when they were seeking help for
their grandmother and had contacted multiple agencies including police, courts, etc. and wondered
whether the various agencies knew of GCAL. Several suggestions were made following a discussion
including:
o DBHDD Web could make the language clearer that this resource is available to family
members – current language indicates it is for consumers to call but a family member might
not understand that it is a resource available to them as well (see below from a Google of
web http://dbhdd.georgia.gov/access-services
“Call the Georgia Crisis & Access Line (GCAL) 1-800-715-4225
Georgia offers a statewide toll-free call center for consumers to access services. The call center
operates 24/7 and has the capacity to screen and assess callers for intensity of service response”
•
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GRID
•
We will ask Jill to give an overview at the next meeting how courts and police departments
around the state are kept informed about GCAL and services that can be accessed and if
there is a system for ensuring officers know it is a resource they can inform families about
and give them information how to contact
DPH and DAS will look at including that GCAL is a resource to families on their web page
including posting the 1-800-715-4225 contact number
Alex and Laura will also look further at the language on the internet re: GCAL and see if they
have any additional suggestions from a family member perspective to make the content
more clear that this is a resource for families as well.
A suggestion was also made to invite someone from GCAL to attend a future meeting to give
an overview.
We reviewed the GRID of impending 2015 cross-trainings for DBHDD/DAS staff (copy
attached to minutes)- Some highlights:
o Mark Baker (DBHDD) has agreed to co-present with Eve Byrd at several training
events for the Introduction of Concept of Recovery and Older Adults with Mental
Illness module
o Kathleen Varda, Highland Rivers CSB has agreed to present on Overview of Public
Mental Health System Services and Access to Care at the July 17 Pre-Conference we
are holding prior to the DAS ADRC Healthy Communities Summit and GGS
Conference (if our proposal to present is accepted)
o Dr. Schillerstrom, Geriatric Psychiatrist from Texas, has agreed to speak at the
October DBHDD Community Provider Symposium on Decision Making Capacity. He
has developed a tool kit that helps people in the field determine whether a person
can accept and utilize services that are being offered to them.
OTHER –
o Babs shared that GGS is interested in having a live, interactive on-line training webinar
on Older Adults and MH as part of MH Awareness Month (May) that is available
statewide. It was suggested that perhaps having DBHDD doing something on how to
access the Crisis Line; BHL doing something about G-CAL; perhaps something from a
caregiver perspective and something addressing “what happens next”, after the call to
GCAL.
o We’ll ask Jill to post in the DBHDD newsletter once a webinar for MH month is
determined
DAS
CCSP (Medicaid Waiver Program)/SOURCE continue as our target population. Part of the Coalition’s
purpose is to continue to shore up relations with people who have a waiver and their local BH providers.
A goal is to facilitate more collaboration between DBHDD and CCSP – get to know local BH provider and
begin development of protocols for people served. The local CSB will be invited to CCSP cross training
events. NEXT STEPS include taking action for connecting at the local level.
VIDEO ON-LINE TRAINING LIBRARY
Jill had shared that on-line training is not as effective for their staff as is in-person training.
●So what do we do moving forward?
●Do we create a library on a website that staff can access? – Difficult for DAS to do at this time
●Would this be a useful training tool for new staff?
Veronica shared that DBHDD staff were unlikely to use this tool unless it was mandatory – but that
perhaps providers might find it useful.
Decided we’d re-visit opportunities on this topic and where to post at a later date – It was mentioned
that DBHDD has a site called DBHDD University.
POLICY UPDATES
The Coalition addresses policy issues in addition to training issues - as we encourage continued
treatment for clients as they age, we want to be sure the providers are reimbursed for their
services and that policy issues potentially impacting this are identified and addressed.
o Issue submitted December 10, 2014 to the DBHDD web site [email protected]
regarding reimbursement for BH Services for dual eligible by a non-Medicare provider is still
pending. DCH reports:
o 1-14-15…. they “are working on this… It is not a quick fix. We have had several meetings
o
•
over the past month with DBHDD and several other departments within DCH regarding this
very issue. A resolution has not occurred at the present.”
UPDATE 4-9-15: (DCH) “had a phone meeting with CMS to discuss this and another issue a
couple of weeks ago. No decision was reached on this issue and they were going to get back
in touch with us. We are continuing to await a response from CMS regarding the payment
by Medicaid for those dually eligible being served in organizations that are not Medicare
providers. Once we receive technical assistance from CMS, we hope we will be able to move
forward on this issue.” NOTE: It was also noted by DCH that they had “made further
progress on this issue in six months than we have as a state in 10 years. We feel we are on
the right track and I am certain we will have a better sense of direction shortly once we hear
from CMS. “
Issue submitted December 10, 2014 to the DBHDD web site [email protected]
regarding possible computer glitch rejecting billing submitted if “dementia” was any part of
diagnosis. DBHDD responded:
o
1-14-15 “We are unaware of any specific edits that would look for dementia as a secondary
diagnosis and reject authorizations or claims as described in (2), item (3). However, DCH did
o
spot a problem last week and have begun doing research. So we are aware of the issue and
are working collaboratively with the DCH on this concern.
GCOABH requested an update 4-15-15 sending: “The SITUATION 2 …which deals with a
provider telling us that bills are being kicked out of the system if dementia was part of the
diagnosis and perhaps there being a glitch in the system is what we are waiting clarification
regarding.”
NEW BUSINESS
Interviews are in progress for a new BH Coach position being hired by the Atlanta Region Area Agency
on Aging to serve residents in AHA affordable housing sites with a focus on keeping the person in
housing and keeping them in services, looking proactively at the type of supports a person has and
needs.
Sarah Ekart, ADRC Options Counseling Specialist and a member of the GCOABH offered her support in
whatever way might be needed – [email protected]
GMCF continues to work on improving the readmission rate for those with SPMI from local hospitals and
improving the rate for depression screenings in primary care.
Remaining 2015 Meeting Dates - 2nd Monday of each month unless otherwise specified
Held at 2 Peachtree Street NW - Room 33-389
Conference Calling Information - Dial: 1-866-469-3239. Attendee code is: 77867441 followed by #
NEXT MEETING: Monday, May 11, 2015
REMAINING 2015 MEETING DATES
June 8
July 13
August 10
September 14
WEDNESDAY October 14 (Due to State Holiday on Monday)
November 9
December 14