BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — The Louisiana Department of Health introduces Louisiana Crisis Response System services to Medicaid members in the state.

“Louisiana has the opportunity to fully develop its crisis response network. When we started this initiative, no communities had access to the full continuum of services envisioned by LDH,” said Assistant Secretary Karen Stubbs, Office of Behavioral Health. “However, some providers and communities demonstrated readiness to expand crisis response services through existing niche programming with robust collaboration and buy-in from crucial partners such as law enforcement, hospital systems and local resource centers.”

According to the state’s department of health, Mobile Crisis Response, Community Brief Crisis Support and Behavioral Health Crisis Care are the first three of four Medicaid services. LDH describes each service:

Mobile Crisis Response: A service that is available as an initial intervention for individuals in a self-identified crisis, in which teams deploy to where the individual is located in the community

Community Brief Crisis Support: A face-to-face ongoing crisis intervention response, designed to provide stabilization and support in the community subsequent to the initial intervention

Behavioral Health Crisis Care: A facility-based walk-in center providing short-term behavioral health crisis intervention, offering a community based voluntary home-like alternative to more restrictive settings

Crisis Stabilization: Short-term, bed-based crisis treatment and support service for individuals who have received a lower level of crisis service and are at risk of hospitalization or institutionalization, including nursing home placement (funding requested for State Fiscal Year 2023)

“Experiencing a mental health crisis can be frightening and confusing, especially when the individual feels that they have no control over their own treatment. We know that safety and trust are critical to successfully navigating such a crisis. With the introduction of the Louisiana Crisis Response System, Louisianans enrolled in Medicaid will have access to a continuum of rapid, coordinated services delivered in a way that best allows them to remain in their communities,” said LDH Secretary Dr. Courtney N. Phillips.

LDH says services are live in the following regions:

Greater New Orleans (Region 1): Orleans, Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes

  • Services by Resources for Human Development, Inc.
    • Mobile Crisis Response: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday
    • Community Brief Crisis Support: available as needed after Mobile Crisis Response

Greater Baton Rouge (Region 2): Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana parishes

  • Services by Recovery Innovations / Bridge Center for Hope
    • Mobile Crisis Response: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday
    • Community Brief Crisis Support: available as needed after Mobile Crisis Response or Behavioral Health Crisis Care
    • Behavioral Health Crisis Care: available 24/7

South-Central Louisiana (Region 3): Assumption, Lafourche, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Mary and Terrebonne parishes

  • Services by Start Corporation
    • Mobile Crisis Response: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
    • Community Brief Crisis Support: available as needed after Mobile Crisis Response or Behavioral Health Crisis Care
    • Behavioral Health Crisis Care: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday

Northwest Louisiana (Region 7): Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, DeSoto, Red River, Sabine, Webster and Natchitoches parishes

  • Services by Merakey Louisiana
    • Mobile Crisis Response: 12 p.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday
    • Community Brief Crisis Support: available as needed after Mobile Crisis Response or Behavioral Health Crisis Care
    • Behavioral Health Crisis Care: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday

Jefferson Parish (Region 10)

  • Services by Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority
    • Community Brief Crisis Support: available as needed after Behavioral Health Crisis Care
    • Behavioral Health Crisis Care: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday

“You never know when a mental health crisis may affect you or someone you love. However, one thing is clear: You want quality services quickly. The Louisiana Crisis Response System provides a spectrum of services designed to meet individuals where they are in their communities, providing stabilization and linkage to resources to help them on their path to recovery,” said Rep. Royce Duplessis, D-New Orleans.

LDH’s Office of Behavioral Health plans to expand services to all regions in a “phased-in rollout.”

Services can be accessed over the phone, according to LDH, by calling the listed numbers below or the numbers on the back of Medicaid insurance cards.

  • Aetna Better Health:1-833-491-1094
  • AmeriHealth Caritas of Louisiana: 1-844-211-0971
  • Healthy Blue: 1-844-812-2280
  • Louisiana Healthcare Connections: 1-844-677-7553
  • United Healthcare: 1-866-232-1626

LDH says access to Behavioral Health Crisis Care is available in the following regions or parishes:

  • Greater Baton Rouge: Call Recovery Innovations at 225-256-6604 or visit the Bridge Center for Hope at 3455 Florida Boulevard, Suite 400, Baton Rouge, LA 70806
  • South-Central Louisiana: Call Start Corporation at 985-333-1633 or 985-266-8340
  • Northwest Louisiana: Call Merakey Louisiana at 318-219-4167 or 336-277-8615
  • Jefferson Parish: Call Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority at 504-349-3740 or visit 5001 Westbank Expressway, Suite 200, Marrero, LA 70072

For more information about the Louisiana Crisis Response System, click here.