Milwaukee County aims to complete crisis services redesign by late 2020, early 2021

Milwaukee County is hoping to implement a redesign of its mental health crisis system by the time a new provider in the area begins supplying inpatient services to those now served by the Mental Health Complex.

The county’s Behavioral Health Division released more details on the study it’s undertaking with research organizations and area healthcare providers at a mental health board meeting last week.

“We are in the very early stages,” said Mike Lappen, Behavioral Health Division administrator. “This is an opportunity for us to really take a look at the continuum of crisis services in Milwaukee.”

The county launched the study after it became clear that Pennsylvania-based Universal Health Services, the sole vendor left in a multi-year process to outsource the complex’s inpatient services, wouldn’t be taking on its psychiatric emergency room.

The Mental Health Board approved starting contract negotiations last week with the provider, with the hope that it would begin accepting patients at its proposed facility by early 2021. The redesigned system would have to be implemented by or before the date of outsourcing and relocation of inpatient services, according to the county.

Lappen outlined the structure, scope and parameters of the project, which is sponsored by the health systems of the Milwaukee Health Care Partnership and the county. The Wisconsin Policy Forum is coordinating the project with help from the Technical Assistance Collaborative and the Human Resources Services Research Institute.

The project will involve identifying models the county could pursue to provide services, interviews with stakeholders on the demand for services and an implementation plan. The county expects the project to take six months, although that depends on data accessibility and interviews.

The design will look at the current and future continuum of crisis services, the role of public and private providers and the county’s legal and regulatory responsibilities. It’ll also consider opportunities for workforce training and education.

If the design recommends a psychiatric emergency department, it wouldn’t be located in the current facility, which the division plans to close. The design will also look at ways to reduce spending that comes from the county’s property tax levy.

This article first appeared in the Wisconsin Health News daily email newsletter. Sign up for your free trial here.