ACCESS CENTER APPOINTMENT LINE, CALIFORNIA

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2016

The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH) Appointment Line began operations on January 1st 2015. This service is available for the Los Angeles County managed care plans and their representatives (including primary care physicians) on behalf of consumers insured by medi-cal or who have no insurance. This program provides Los Angeles County residents, currently not receiving services, a way to obtain a mental health clinic appointment by contacting one toll-free number. The criteria for the service are that the consumer is likely to have a severe and persistent mental health illness with an urgent need for further assessment, but not in need for crisis services. In November 2015 usage of the Appointment Line was expanded to the Department of Health Services (DHS). DHS consumers who require routine mental health services can now obtain an appointment through the Appointment Line. Dr. Chau, the Medical Director of Care Management at L.A. Care noted that this program has become a model for other counties to follow. In 2015 the Appointment Line completed 1496 appointments (1363 for consumer with urgent needs and 133 appointments for those with routine specialized mental health needs).