Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) --- BHO Contracts & Resources 

               Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)  is a multi-disciplinary team model of treatment where services go to the person when necessary on a 24-hour, 7-day a week basis.  Although widely recognized as an effective mode of treatment for people who might otherwise be institutionalized because of mental illness, access to ACT is severely restricted under Colorado Medicaid.  

Orchid's Color-Coded Chart of Immediate Past BHO Contractual Obligations for ACT *
*Does not appear HCPF (Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing) is tracking ACT numbers under Performance Measures for current contract effective Oct. 2014.  Performance Measures found under Exhibit G of the BHO (Behavioral Health Organization) Contracts. 
Access Behavioral Care (BHO)
Behavioral Healthcare, Inc. (BHO)
Colorado Health Partnerships, LLC (BHO)
Foothills Behavioral Health Partner, LLC (BHO)
Northeast Behavior Health Partners, LLC (BHO) /  Now Access Behavioral Care Northeast
40
300 (8:1 clinician/member ratio)
165
41 Members annually
45 Clients at any given time
Denver
Adams
Arapahoe
Douglas
Alamosa, Archuleta, Baca,
Bent, Chaffee, Conejos,
Costilla, Crowley, Custer,
Delta, Dolores, Eagle,
El Paso, Fremont, Garfield,
Grand, Gunnison, Hinsdale,
Huerfano, Jackson, Kiowa,
Lake, La Plata, Las Animas,
Mesa, Mineral, Moffat,
Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, Otero, Park, Pitkin, Prowers, Pueblo, Rio Blanco,
Rio Grande, Routt, Saguache,
San Juan, San Miguel,
Summit, Teller 
Boulder
Broomfield
Clear Creek
Gilpin
Jefferson
Cheyenne
Elbert
Kit Carson
Larimer
Lincoln
Logan
Morgan
Phillips
Sedgwick
Washington
Weld
Yuma

Assertive Community Treatment
How You Feel About It In the Mental Health Community Probably Depends A Lot On Where You're At

Val's Take

                 This video from the Nathaniel Project in New York does give some Mental Health Advocates pause -- because the service provider is saying how great it is that they actually go to where the person is -- and can get a better idea of how the person is really doing.

                  Well, that sounds pretty invasive.  The Nathaniel Project is geared towards people charged with  felonies in New York and is trying to address the biggest part of the Mental Health population that is institutionalized -- that involved with the Criminal Justice System.

                  When I talked to one of my guys yesterday in the Denver Detention Center -- what's his big concern -- he doesn't want to be put on probation-- that just sets him up for failure.
                  
                  So I talked to him about the idea of Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), service providers coming to him -- Well -- that sounded pretty darn good.  What about that being really invasive -- well, he wasn't really concerned about it -- and people are different.  We can't say that enough, People ARE  Different. 
                  
                    The "Conditions of Probation" so simple -- who couldn't do that -- but if you're homeless, have mental illness which often brings with it Executive Functioning problems not to mention memory or learning disabilities -- It's a Nightmare.
                   
                       Further, the people who are judging you generally have Excellent Executive Functioning and really don't know what the problem could be other than that you are just BAD.             
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Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Evidence-Based Practices (EBP) KIT
http://store.samhsa.gov/product/Assertive-Community-Treatment-ACT-Evidence-Based-Practices-EBP-KIT/SMA08-4345

See 2010 CO Leg. Amends Law

In lieu of revocation for a technical violation, the parole board may modify the conditions of parole and require the parolee to participate in a residential or outpatient treatment program.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-krause/parole-revocation-fiscal-colorado_b_851736.html



So Why Isn't This Working for A Lot of People?

  • Their needs are not necessarily temporary or transitional in nature, and we have to plan for the long-term.
  • Housing is one of their most significant "health" needs
  • Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is NOT treated in Colorado just as any other health care treatment and provided to all under Medicaid where reasonably medically necessary --
  • ACT  Is Severely Rationed and the Discriminatory Effects are Horrifically Harsh and Absolutely Include Unnecessary Incarceration.

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See Val's Blog: Let's Get Serious & ACT
(as in Assertive Community Treatment)