Issue 18: Case Management

Goal: Ensure that appropriate, coherent services are available for each client through case management.

Discussion

The role of case managers in providing continuity of care is addressed in the Treatment section of this plan. In addition, in well managed mental health systems, case managers function as the responsible entity to assure appropriate quality of care for individuals as they move through the system. An acceptable definition of case management appears in the federal publication Adults with Severe and Persistent Mental Illness. "Case management is a practice in which the service recipient is a partner, to the greatest extent possible, in assessing needs, obtaining services, treatments and supports, and in preventing and managing crisis. The focus of the partnership is recovery and self management of mental illness and life. The individual and the practitioner plan, coordinate, monitor, adjust, and advocate for services and support directed toward the achievement of the individual's personal goals for recovery and self management of mental illness and life. The individual and the practitioner plan, coordinate, monitor, adjust and advocate for services and supports directed toward the achievement of the individual's personal goals for community living."

All persons who have a severe and persistent mental illness should have a case manager. The intensity of case management services should be tied to the level of acuity of the illness. There is concern that when case management services are provided by the service provider, adequate planning, monitoring, adjustment and advocacy may not occur. Independence of case management may mitigate these difficulties. In the Alaska Mental Health Board's research into long term care, recommendations were adopted to explore the possibility of multiple state agencies supporting independent case management service agencies.

Actions

278. The Division of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities and Alaska Mental Health Board will support consumer choice of case management services, when appropriate.

279. The Department of Health and Social Services, Alaska Mental Health Board, and Department of Administration will investigate the possibility of supporting single case management service providers, regardless of the disabling condition and from whom they receive treatment services.
Responsible party (actions 1-2): Division of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, Alaska Mental Health Board

280. The Alaska Mental Health Board will advocate for inclusion of client choice in case management services in Division of Medical Assistance regulations and in public managed care.