Changes under way in Iowa's program for children with serious emotional disturbances

DES MOINES, Iowa-Magellan Behavioral Care of Iowa is managing a new state program, Iowa Behavioral Health Intervention Services (BHIS), formerly known as Remedial Services and administered by the Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME). Magellan has worked to ensure a seamless transition of services for children with serious emotional disturbance and their families requiring behavioral health support.

“Magellan brings a clinical perspective to ensure that individuals seeking behavioral health intervention services are provided the most appropriate, evidence-based treatment based on their diagnosis,” explained Joan M. Discher, general manager of Magellan's Iowa Care Management Center. “Given the breadth of services we provide in Iowa, we have integrated the BHIS program into our services and are providing a comprehensive, coordinated approach to care that enhances the effectiveness of treatment, improves outcomes for children and reduces unnecessary costs for the state of Iowa.”

BHIS helps children with serious emotional disturbance by teaching them age-appropriate ways to manage behavior. Provided in a community-based or residential group care environment, these interventions focus on conflict resolution, problem-solving, interpersonal skills, communication skills and social skills, and involve the family in the treatment process.

 Remedial Services Transition Committee

The transition of services, which occurred on July 1, 2011, was overseen by the Remedial Services Transition Committee. The committee convened last year and was charged by the Iowa General Assembly with reviewing the possibility of moving Remedial Services to the Iowa Plan. This stakeholder group,  including state officials, providers and parents, also recommended changes to the program to improve quality of care and reduce costs.

“We decided to include BHIS within the Iowa Plan because it will promote greater coordination of care and will enhance quality and outcomes for Iowa's Medicaid recipients,” said Jennifer Vermeer, director of IME and a member of the Transition Committee. “We took extra care to ensure a smooth transition for providers and the families who receive these services.”

“The emotional impact of mental illness can often leave a family to feel alone,” said Kelly Ramus, a parent and family advocate who also served on the Transition Committee. “With BHIS, children and families can learn new skills for family empowerment and stability. This is an exciting time for mental health services in Iowa.”

Iowa residents who receive BHIS services were notified of the changes to the program by mail earlier this year. Providers may visit the Magellan of Iowa website, www.MagellanofIowa.com, to find information regarding the credentialing process.

About Magellan Health Services:  Headquartered in Avon, Conn., Magellan Health Services Inc. is a leading specialty health care management organization with expertise in managing behavioral health, radiology and specialty pharmaceuticals, as well as public sector pharmacy benefits programs. Magellan delivers innovative solutions to improve quality outcomes and optimize the cost of care for those we serve.  Magellan's customers include health plans, employers and government agencies, serving approximately 31.3 million members in our behavioral health business, 18.9 million members in our radiology benefits management segment, and five million members in our medical pharmacy management product.  In addition, the specialty pharmaceutical segment serves 41 health plans and several pharmaceutical manufacturers and state Medicaid programs.  The company's Medicaid Administration segment serves 25 states and the District of Columbia.  For more information, visit

www.MagellanHealth.com.