HARP Services

Starting on October 1, 2021, MetroPlusHealth will in-source HARP Behavioral Health Services previously managed by Beacon Health Options. These services give members of ­­­­­­our Enhanced HARP plan who qualify for the additional help available the power to improve their health, well-being, and quality of life, strengthening families and helping them make informed decisions about their care. Services are provided at home or in the community.

For most services, members may choose from a list of MetroPlusHealth in-network providers.

Mental Health Benefits include:

• Inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care – Psychiatric care that is provided either in an office or clinic environment, or in an inpatient hospital service
• Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) – Active treatment designed to stabilize or reduce acute symptoms in a partial hospitalization program (outpatient level) in a person who would otherwise need hospitalization
• Substance Use Disorder Inpatient Detoxification – Medically managed withdrawal and stabilization in a hospital setting. Designed for individuals who are acutely ill from alcohol-related and/or substance-related addictions or dependence
• Substance Use Disorder Inpatient Rehabilitation – Office of Addiction Services and Supports-certified 24-hour, structured, short-term, intensive treatment services provided in a hospital or free-standing facility
• Crisis Residence and/or Crisis Respite – Services provided by a mobile crisis team to a person who is experiencing or is at imminent risk of having a psychiatric crisis. These services are designed to interrupt and/or lessen a crisis, including a preliminary assessment, immediate crisis resolution and de-escalation
• Assertive Community Treatment (ACT )- A comprehensive & integrated set of psychiatric, psychosocial rehabilitation, case management, and support services. Services are provided by a mobile multi-disciplinary mental health treatment program mainly in the client’s residence or other community locations
• Personalized Recovery Oriented Services (PROS) – A comprehensive recovery-oriented program for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness. The goal of the program is to integrate treatment, support, and rehabilitation in a manner that facilitates the individual’s recovery

Substance Use Disorder benefits include:

• Crisis Services-  a variety of treatments to provide immediate care for intoxicated or incapacitated individuals. The primary goal is to manage withdrawals from substances,  and address associated medical and psychiatric complications. Crisis services include detox services, and are also designed to facilitate connections to continued care.
  • Medically Managed Withdrawal Management-the highest level of detox treatment for those with the greatest need
  • Medically Supervised Withdrawal Management (Inpatient/Outpatient*)-less intensive detox services
• Inpatient Rehabilitation – provides a safe and supportive setting for the evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation of people with substance use disorders. Provides 24 hour, 7-day a-week care, supervised at all times by a medical professional and include intensive management of symptoms related to addiction and monitoring of the physical and mental complications resulting from substance use.
• Residential addiction treatment services- designed for people who are in need of 24 hour support in their recovery in order to participate in treatment. They are designed to develop or maintain recovery through a structured, substance-free setting, and include group support, independent living skills development and other services to promote recovery.
  • Stabilization in Residential Setting-the highest level of support, often the first step, lasting up to a month
  • Rehabilitation in Residential Setting-the next level of support, often lasting several months
• Outpatient addiction treatment services- provide clinical services for people with an addiction to substances and their families. May be delivered at different levels of intensity according to the needs of the patient. These services include counseling, education, and connections to community services.
  • Intensive Outpatient Treatment-a structured program typically 3 days a week 4 hours a day
  • Outpatient Rehabilitation Services and Opiate Treatment –
    • *Outpatient Withdrawal Management – when the home environment is safe and the person is stable enough to engage actively without 24 hour support
    • Medication Assisted Treatment- includes office based treatment with medications to help opiate, alcohol and other substance use disorders.
    • Opioid Treatment Programs (OTP)- Opioid Treatment Centers (OTP) are Office of Addiction Services and Supports-certified sites where medication to treat opioid dependency is administered. These medications can include methadone, buprenorphine, and suboxone. In addition to medications, these facilities also offer counseling and educational services. In most cases, patients receiving services at an OTP clinic are provided treatment over a lifetime, similar to management of chronic physical ailments.

Community Oriented Recovery and Empowerment (CORE) Services

Starting February 1, 2022, four Adult Behavioral Health Home and Community Based Services (BH HCBS) will be changing to Community Oriented Recovery and Empowerment (CORE) Services.

CORE services will be available to Adults (age 21 years and above) who qualify for the MetroPlusHealth Enhanced HARP (or HARP eligible in our MetroplusHealth Partnership in Care) program.

New York State is making this change because CORE Services are easier to get than BH HCBS. Eligible members can get CORE Services through a recommendation from a qualified provider.

The services moving from BH HCBS to CORE Services are:

1. Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR)
   This service helps with life skills, like making social connections; finding or keeping a job; starting or returning to school; and using community resources.
2. Community Psychiatric Support and Treatment (CPST) This service helps you manage symptoms through counseling and clinical treatment.
3. Empowerment Services – Peer Supports This service connects you to peer specialists who have gone through recovery. You will get support and assistance with learning how to:
   • live with health challenges and be independent,
   • help you make decisions about your own recovery, and
   • find natural supports and resources.
4. Family Support and Training (FST) This service gives your family and friends the information and skills to help and support you.What are the changes from BH HCBS to CORE Services?
   These CORE Services are almost the same as they were in BH HCBS. There are two changes:
   1. You now have more options for services to support goals related to work and school. You can work with a CORE PSR provider to help you:
   • get a job or go to school while managing mental health or addiction struggles
   • live independently and manage your household; and
   • build or strengthen healthy relationships.
   2. Short-term Crisis Respite and Intensive Crisis Respite are now called Crisis Residential Services and are still available.

   These seven services are still available under BH HCBS:

   • Habilitation
   • Education Support Services
   • Pre-Vocational Services
   • Transitional Employment
   • Intensive Supported Employment
   • Ongoing Supported Employment
   • Non-Medical Transportation

   Will I have to change my BH HCBS provider to get CORE Services?
   If you were getting CPST, PSR, FST or Peer Support as BH HCBS before February 1, 2022, you can keep getting the same services from your provider under CORE. Your provider will talk to you about any changes that affect you. You can also ask your Care Manager for help.

   Do I need an assessment for BH HCBS?
   Yes, you need to do the New York State Eligibility Assessment with your Care Manager or recovery coordinator to get a BH HCBS.

   Do I need an assessment for CORE Services?
   No, you do not need the New York State Eligibility Assessment to get CORE Services. You can get a CORE service if it is recommended for you by a qualified provider, like a doctor or social worker. The qualified provider may want to discuss your diagnosis and needs before making a recommendation for a CORE service.

   How do I find a qualified provider to recommend me for CORE Services?
   Your primary care provider or therapist may be able to make a recommendation for CORE Services. If you need help finding a qualified provider, contact our Member Services Team at the number below. You can also ask your Care Manager for help.

If qualified, Health and Community Based Services are also available. They include:

Education Support Services:

For members who want to obtain formal education to become competitively employed. (Competitive employment refers to jobs that any person in the general community can apply for and pays at least minimum wage.)

Employment Services:

Pre-Vocational Services

• Preparing members for competitive employment, who have little to no work experience or haven’t worked in a long time.

Transitional Employment:

• Preparing members for competitive employment in the general community who have little to no work experience or haven’t worked in a long time.
• Transitional employment slots are arranged by the HCBS provider in a formal agreement with businesses who hire people in the general community.

Habilitation (Residential Supports):

• For members in need of basic living, functional, and social skills building.

Short Term Crisis Respite:
* Available for all HARP enrollees, HCBS eligibility assessment is not required. Need not be health home enrolled.

• For members who are experiencing challenges in daily life and are at risk for an escalation of symptoms

Intensive Crisis Respite
* Available for all HARP enrollees, HCBS eligibility assessment is not required.

• For members who are experiencing a acute escalation of mental health symptoms and need supports to stabilize the behavioral health crisis.

What other services are available and where do I find them?

Adults (over age 21) who qualify for the HARP program can get the full array of Behavioral Health Services at low or no additional cost. The HCBS (Health and Community Based Services) above are also available. These services are usually overseen by joining a Health Home and accessing Case Management services, available to all HARP members.

Health Homes and Referral for BH Care Management

• The purpose of Health Homes is to provide the opportunity to receive coordination of primary, acute, behavioral health, and long-term services for persons with chronic illness.
• How to join a health home:
  • Members, alone or with the help of their providers, can contact the Medicaid Helpline at 1-800-541-2831 or the NYS DOH Health Home line 1-518-473-5569
  • For help enrolling in our Behavioral Health (BH) care management services, ask your provider to help:
  • Call the member services phone number at 1-800-303-9626, and request a transfer to BH or HARP Care Manager to assist with enrollment and connection to services
  • For help enrolling in a health home, ask your provider to call on your behalf:
  • Call 1-844-225-4277 to facilitate coordination with a Health Home

For a list of covered benefits, services, and other important information, visit our Enhanced HARP page. You can also view important plan documents, including your handbook there too. Our Member Services team can also be contacted for additional information or support. Call 1-800-303-9626 (TTY: 711). This telephone number is also listed on the back of your Member ID Card.

You can reach us anytime

• Our Member Services team is always here to help. We are here Monday through Saturday from 8:00AM to 8:00PM. Just call 1-800-303-9626 (TTY:711).
• Our 24/7 Customer Service Hotline will answer your call at other times and on holidays.

Our Behavioral Health Crisis after hours partner — Vibrant Emotional Health — can be reached 24/7 at 1-866-728-1885 (SMS capable for the hearing impaired).

Learn more about these services

You can find out more about HARP Services. Call us at 1-800-303-9626 (TTY: 711).

How will these services help you?

These enhanced services, including Behavioral Health treatment for all levels of need, Substance Use Disorder treatment for all levels of need, Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) that allow people to receive services above and beyond those typically provided — combined with the support offered through Health Home and Case Management services — help members meet their individual needs for support and recovery skill building by:

• Identifying mental health and/ or substance use needs early
• Providing support in the home and community
• Preventing the need for emergency room visits, hospital stays, or out-of-home placements
• Building life skills and establishing supports to enter and stay in recovery and life a productive and healthy life.

Additional Resources:

First Episode Psychosis (FEP)​
An abundance of data accumulated over the past two decades supports the value of early intervention with services to help people maximize recovery following a first psychotic episode. Providers (inpatient & outpatient) will assess for and refer members experiencing first episode psychosis to specialty programs such as: ​
​
OnTrackNY Providers, trained by The Center for Practice Innovations (CPI) at Columbia Psychiatry/NYS Psychiatric Institute, deliver coordinated, specialty care, for those experiencing FEP, including: “psychiatric treatment, including medication; cognitive-behavioral approaches, including skills training; individual placement and support approach to employment and educational services; integrated treatment for mental health and substance use problems; and family education and support” (CPI website). Each site has the ability to care for up to 35 individuals. Requirements: ​
1. Ages 16-30 ​
2. Began experiencing psychotic symptoms for more than a week, yet less than 2 years, prior to referral ​
3. The definition of FEP excludes individuals whose psychotic symptoms are due primarily to substance use​
*Providers who need to refer members for further behavioral health care should contact Beacon.​
​
Currently there are 1-3 OnTrackNY sites in each of our 5 boroughs: https://ontrackny.org/contact​
For general information about the OnTrackNY initiative, or for training and consultation, please email ​
[email protected]

Transition Age Youth​

This list has been complied to offer information and resources for young people transitioning to adulthood, their families and service providers.

Behavioral Health and Addiction Support
Being a teenager is a challenge for every young person. In meeting the needs of youth living with behavioral health diagnoses or a substance use disorder, appropriate services and supports are critical to recovery.

Education and Employment Sites
For young people wishing to pursue an education and/or work. Information on preparing for college life, how to find and keep employment, and managing the transition with a disability.

Health, Wellness, and Relationships
People transitioning to adulthood must learn how to be proactive about their health care and wellness.

Life Skills, Independent Living, and Housing Resources
Life skills and independent living resources are necessary for an individual to become an independent adult. Stable housing provides a foundation to pursue life goals. Financial literacy resources and applications for important documents are included.

Parenting Resources
Offers helpful tips for parents of babies and young children as well as supportive resources when parenting with a mental illness.

Provider Support and Resources
Information for providers of services for young people transitioning to adulthood as well as resources for this developmental stage.

Youth Culture and LGBTQ Youth Resources
Transition from childhood to adulthood in the context of our larger culture. Resources for LGBTQ youth that respect and affirm their whole experience of self and can help them navigate some of the challenges posed by social stigma and other factors.

You can also view links to important crisis hotlines below:

Medical/Behavioral Health crisis contact information

NYC Well

• 1-888-NYC-WELL (1-888-692-9355)
• 1-888-692-9355 (Español)
• 1-888-692-9355 (中文)
• TTY 711

You can also visit the New York State Office of Mental Health for help getting assistance, support, and resources:  https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/bootstrap/consumers-families.html

Toll-Free Crisis Hotlines

• Domestic Violence / Violencia Doméstica
  • 1-800-942-6906
• Justice Center HOTLINE/Centro de Justicia
  • 1-855-373-2122
  • In NYC: 311 or 1-800-732-5207
•  Adult Protective Services/Servicios Protectores para Adultos
  • 1-844-697-3505

Additional information about community forums, advocacy, volunteer activities, and workgroups/ committees that provide involvement opportunities for members receiving services, family members, providers, and stakeholders:

• DOH – Department of Health
• OMH – Office of Mental Health
  • ​To ask questions or submit a complaint about Medicaid Managed Care, submit to [email protected]
  • You can also submit a question or complaint.
• Office of Addiction Services and Supports

For links to patient advocacy for patients and families

• OPWDD – Office for People with Developmental Disabilities
• New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene
• Links to service providers and parent, family, sibling, or legal advocacy groups

Last updated – 3/31/2022 10:09:07 PM