Executive Parisi Announces Partnership to Expand Mental Health Coverage in Dane County

July 28, 2015
Stephanie Miller, 608-267-8823
County Executive

             Parisi: “Virtually Every Person in Dane County Now Has Mental Health Coverage.”

 

MADISON- Today, Dane County Executive Joe Parisi announced that Dane County residents have greatly improved access to mental health coverage.  The Affordable Care Act has provided mental health coverage to thousands of our residents and, effective this month, Dane County is offering a new Comprehensive Community Services (CCS) program.

“This is a giant step forward to ensuring everyone in Dane County has access to the health services they need,” said Dane County Executive Joe Parisi.  “For too long mental health hasn’t been treated like healthcare.  I am proud today that now people in Dane County have access to these vital services. Today is an important day for all of Dane County.”

Dane County Department of Human Services’ CCS Program was certified effective July 2015. CCS is a Medicaid benefit that offers a flexible array of individualized, community-based psychosocial rehabilitation services for people with mental health and/or substance abuse needs. It is a voluntary program that serves people of all ages and provides the full range of mental health services.  The program is consumer directed and based on recovery principles. 

CCS is a federal and state funded benefit that covers actual costs of service delivery and does not require county match. The role of the CCS Intake Social Worker is to assess eligibility for CCS, explain service options, and initiate adult consumer enrollment.  There is considerable community interest in the CCS program.  More than 25 agencies and 200 community professionals have applied to be CCS providers and are receiving 20 – 40 hours of required CCS training.  We anticipate consumer demand will be high.

“With the implementation of Comprehensive Community Services, Dane County will have the opportunity to support more consumers with a wider range of services from a variety of providers,” stated Bonnie Lounghran, Executive Director of NAMI Dane County.  “NAMI Dane County promotes recovery.  Increased access of supportive services and treatment are essential."

For more information on Dane County CCS: https://danecountyhumanservices.org/ccs/prov/default.aspx