November 2012

Saluting Excellence ABH December Committee ABH’s favorite day of the year — it’s annual Salute to Excellence — was held on Fri- Meetings day, October 19 at the Westin Waltham Hotel. There, 330 people gathered to cele- brate the accomplishments of this year’s awardees. As we’ve come to expect, the contributions that these individuals have made to community behavioral healthcare is

Tuesday, December 4 extraordinary. ATS,10 a.m. In addition, keynote speaker Chris Herren, a basketball legend from Fall River who

realized his dreams by playing for the Celtics, gave an incredibly moving talk about his Wednesday, December 5 personal struggles with drug addiction and the toll it took on his career as a profes- E-Health, 9:30 a.m. sional basketball player, and more importantly on his wife and children. Chris has (Framingham Public Li- been in recovery since 2008 but like many individuals, he failed at multiple previous brary) attempts at recovery. Chris talked extensively about his current work with teens in the area of prevention and concluded his remarks by highlighting the essential role Monday, December 10 provider organizations play every day in helping individuals like him achieve recovery. Billing, 10 a.m. We were grateful that Chris was able to join us in recognizing this year’s awardees

and were extremely moved by his words. Friday, December 14 Please see page two for a list of our awardees and sponsors. Corporate Compliance, 10 a.m.

Tuesday, December 18 Methadone, 9:30 a.m.

All meetings are held at Basketball legend Chris Herren address- ABH unless otherwise es the crowd at the Salute to Excel- Senator John Keenan lence. Madeline Becker accepts noted. For more infor- speaks at the Salute to the Special Recognition mation, call Excellence. Award from Vinfen CEO 508-647-8385. Bruce Bird.

Saluting the Best ABH and its mem- bers extend their ABH is privileged to be able to recognize these outstanding individuals for their unwa- greatest apprecia- tion to the sponsors vering dedication to individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders. They of this year’s Salute truly make a difference each and every day. to Excellence! Carl B. Cutchins Award Deborah Allen, Boston Public Health Commission

Lunch Sponsor Francis O’Brien Award for Addiction Services Gosnold on Cape Cod Katherine Wilson, Behavioral Health Network

Gift Sponsor Excellence in Administration & Finance Massachusetts Jim Pettinelli, Victory Programs Behavioral Health Partnership Excellence in Outcomes Gosnold-Falmouth Hospital Collaboration Project, Gosnold on Cape Cod Centerpiece/ Photographer Sponsor Excellence in Best Practices Hill Associates Ayer-Concord Drug Court Team, Advocates, Inc. Program Book Sponsor Excellence in Program Leadership Alkermes Mark Brown, Spectrum Health Systems Carol Luce, High Point Treatment Center Breakfast Sponsor Spectrum Health Special Recognition Systems Madeline Becker, Vinfen Corporation

Break Sponsor Qualifacts Systems Innovative Practice Mareike Muszynski, Clinical and Support Options Dessert Sponsor BMC HealthNet Excellence in Community Service Dana Mohler-Faria, Bridgewater State University Raffle Prize Sponsors Beacon Health Strategies

Neighborhood Health Plan

Wayside Youth & Family Support Network

We Welcome Your Feedback Thank you for your support! If you attended this year’s Salute to Excellence, we would love to hear your feedback on the event. Please take a moment to complete this brief questionnaire by clicking on the following link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XFQ6RFY. Thank you. Property and Insurance Program

The Bostonian Group, an ABH Associate Member, has extended an exclusive invitation to all ABH members to attend a presentation on a comprehensive property and casualty insurance program specifically designed for community-based behavioral healthcare organizations. While the program is relatively new to Massachu- setts, it has been a national leader for over 40 years, providing coverage exclusively to behavioral healthcare agencies. As you recall, last year ABH hosted a meeting for our members on the issue of Board & Officers Insur- ance. We hosted the meeting in response to a lawsuit that is pending against directors and staff of of our member organizations in relation to the death of a direct care worker at that provider organization. The Bostonian Group has been named the exclusive broker for this program in Massachusetts which is un- derwritten by Scottsdale Insurance Co., an A+ rated insurer. It is the only insurance program endorsed by the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare and the Mental Health Corporations of America. The Bostonian Group is inviting ABH members to learn about the specifics of this program on the following dates: Wednesday, November 14th, 9:00 – 10:00am Newton Marriott, 2345 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton, MA Please RSVP by November 7

Wednesday, December 5, 9:00 –10:00am (NEW DATE) Beechwood Hotel, 363 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA Please RSVP by November 21

RSVP to: Bill Granahan – Senior Vice President, The Bostonian Group [email protected] or call 617- 587-2324

If you have any questions, please contact Vic DiGravio at 508-647-8385, x. 11 The Rules of Meaningful Use

“Meaningful Use” seems to be one of those terms that’s thrown around regarding health information tech- nology (HIT), but the actual “meaning” of the term always seems a bit fuzzy. In essence, providers must meet certain criteria that demonstrate “Meaningful Use” of HIT in order to receive federal incentive pay- ments. Recently, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services published its final rule for the second stage of Meaningful Use. While ABH and the National Council are still working to ensure that behavioral health providers are able to receive federal HIT incentive payments (S. 539/H. 6043), the good news is that the new final rule includes 15 clinical quality measures (used to demonstrate Meaningful Use) that are applicable to behavioral health pro- viders. Previously, very few applied to behavioral health. For more information, including the full text of the Meaningful Use Step 1 and Step 2 Final Rules as well as a PowerPoint overview on the new final rule from the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, click here.

Thinking Caps Needed

The Department of Public Health/Bureau of Substance Abuse Services intends to re-

lease its Residential Reprocurement and Draft RFR in early November for review and comment. ABH has scheduled a special meeting on Thursday, November 15 at 1:00 p.m. at the Framingham Public Library to discuss these drafts and solicit ABH STAFF input and recommendations from members. Mark your calendars and bring your thinking caps! Vicker V. DiGravio III President/CEO 508.647.8385, x11 [email protected] Another New Acronym

MassHealth is currently redesigning their payment system to meet the aggressive time- Sara Hartman Vice President for lines outlined in the payment reform law passed earlier this year (Chapter 224 of the Mental Health Acts of 2012). This new program, called Primary Care Payment Reform (PCPR) will 508.647.8385, x13 [email protected] apply to both the PCC plan administered by MBHP and to the Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs). Constance Peters The new law requires MassHealth to have 25% of its enrollees receiving services using Vice President for Addiction Services alternative payment methodologies by July 1, 2013. That percentage increases to 50% 508.647.8385, x15 [email protected] by July 1, 2014 and 80% by July 1, 2015. Interest piqued? Find out more here.

Jessica Hammond A Peek in the Personnel File Director of Children’s Behavioral Health and Executive Office of Health and Human Services Secretary JudyAnn Member Services 508.647.8385, x16 Bigby recently announced that Dr. Lauren Smith has been named [email protected] Interim Commissioner of the Department of Public Health. Dr.

Smith has served as Medical Director at DPH since 2007. ABH Mandy Johnson congratulates Dr. Smith on her appointment and looks forward to Director of Public Policy & Research working with her in her new role. 508.647.8385, x14 [email protected] We will keep you posted as we learn more about the Administration’s efforts to ap-

point a permanent successor to outgoing Commissioner John Auerbach. Rosemary Santini Administrative Assistant 508.647.8385, x10 Keeper’s Korner [email protected] Keeper is more likely to be found cuddling under a blanket during Patriots’ games than keeping track of rushing and passing stats, but Ellen Caliendo Business Manager she does love healthcare statistics. The Center for Health Law and 508.380.9887 Economics at the UMass Medical School recently released a new [email protected] analysis looking at federal MassHealth revenue received by the state. Keeper is enjoying football season. Keeper chased her tail a bit when she learned that “federal revenue supporting MassHealth has grown more than two and a half times over the past dec- ade, reaching $8.3 billion in state fiscal year 2011” and accounts “for more than 80 percent of federal dollars received during state fiscal year 2011.”