Practice Management Insight

October 2009

A report on events affecting Oklahoma providers

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Questions or comments? E-mail us at [email-masked] or call 405.286.1674

MARK YOUR

CALENDAR

October 9

ASAM with Steve Stewart

Tulsa Technology Center

Lemley Campus

Career Services Center

3420 Memorial Drive

Contact: 405-522-8300

Fax: 405-522-8320

Event Information

Online Registration

October 13-14

Certified Problem

Gambling Counselor

Training with Wiley Harwell

Tulsa Technology (Riverside)

801 East 91st, Alliance & Conference Center Bldg A 144

Tulsa, OK 74132

Contact: 405-522-8300

Fax: 405-522-8320

Event Information

October 22-23

Case Management Conference

Postal Center

Norman, OK

Contact: 405-522-8300

Event Information

October 27-28

SOAR Training

Autry Technology Center

1201 W Willow

Enid, OK 79703

Contact: Kelly Earles,

405-522-0103

Fax: 405-522-8661

Event Information

October 29-30

Certified Problem

Gambling Counselor

Training with Wiley Harwell

Tulsa Technology (Riverside)

Tulsa, OK 74132

Contact: 405-522-8300

Fax: 405-522-8320

Event Information

October 4-10, 2009 is Mental Illness Awareness Week

After December 2009,
Medicaid billing will

never be the same.

Is your center prepared
for the coming changes?

The April 1 changes were just the first step in the merging of OHCA and ODMHSAS into a single authorization and claims payment system.  Target for completion
is December 2009.  GET READY!

CALL 405.286.1674

Nationwide Public Health Alert

Life-Threatening Risk Posed by Cocaine Laced with Veterinary Anti-Parasite Drug

“The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is alerting medical professionals, substance abuse treatment centers and other public health authorities about the risk that substantial levels of cocaine may be adulterated with levamisole—a veterinary anti-parasitic drug. There have been approximately 20 confirmed or probable cases of agranulocytosis (a serious, sometimes fatal blood disorder), including two deaths, associated with cocaine adulterated with levamisole. The number of reported cases is expected to increase as information about cocaine adulterated with levamisole is disseminated.  …

“Levamisole is used in veterinary medicine and is currently approved for use in cattle, sheep and swine as an anti-parasitic agent. Although it was once used in human medicine in the past for treating autoimmune disease and cancer, it is no longer an approved drug for human use.

“Ingesting cocaine mixed with levamisole can seriously reduce a person’s white blood cells, suppressing immune function and the body’s ability to fight off even minor infections. People who snort, smoke, or inject crack or powder cocaine contaminated by levamisole can experience overwhelming, rapidly-developing, life-threatening infections. Other serious side effects can also occur. …”          Read more

“In 1990, the U.S. Congress established the first                                                                     week of October as “Mental Illness Awareness                                                                     Week” (MIAW) in recognition of the National Alliance on Mental Illness’s (NAMI) efforts to raise mental illness awareness. Since 1990, mental health advocates across the country have joined together during the first week of October to celebrate.

“MIAW is NAMI’s premiere awareness and public education campaign and link NAMI’s 1.100+ local affiliates across the country.

“MIAW has become a tradition in NAMI. It presents an opportunity for all three levels of NAMI—national, state and local—to work together in communities across the country to achieve the NAMI mission through outreach, education and

advocacy. ….”                                                                                                                 Read more

Building Community, Taking Action

Nationwide Licensure for Mental Health Counselors Near

“The mental health counseling profession is now just one signature away from achieving licensure in all fifty states and the District of Columbia. On September 10, 2009, the California Senate passed SB 788, a bill allowing for the licensure of mental health counselors in California, with a 26-1 vote. This follows a 70-5 vote in the California Assembly, two days earlier, on September 8, 2009. …

“SB 788 now awaits signature by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, so it may be acted into law. …

“SB 788 as passed would authorize the Board of Behavioral Sciences in the Department of Consumer Affairs to begin accepting applications for licensure examination eligibility on January 1, 2012 and to issue licenses to individuals meeting certain criteria who apply between January 1, 2011 and June 30, 2011. …”                                                                                                                                             Read more

The Joint Commission

Behavioral Health Care Accreditation Program

2010 Chapter: National Patient Safety Goals

Join Together.org and

StraightDopeForParents