Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Program

The Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Project (MCPAP) is a system of regional children's mental health consultation teams designed to help primary care providers (PCPs) meet the needs of children with psychiatric problems.

In 2002, a consortium of New England states under Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) leadership of Ron Preston (former health and human services secretary) met to discuss concerns around the number of children insured by Medicaid who were receiving psychotropic drugs at young ages and children of all ages who were receiving multiple psychotropic drugs.  In 2003, based on these concerns, CMS and MassHealth provided a grant to  Dr. Ron Steingard at UMass Medical School to develop a pilot program in Central Massachusetts (TCPS- Targeted Child Psychiatric Services) providing consultation to pediatricians around child psychiatry problems, including the prescribing of psychotropic medications.

In FY04, Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership (MBHP), with significant stakeholder input, adapted the UMass pilot into a program design that would allow statewide rollout. The project received legislative approval in June 2004 to be administered by the MBHP as a contracted Performance Incentive project.

The primary objective of the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Program (MCPAP) is to support and enhance the role of the primary care provider in the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with behavioral health problems. This project is designed to enhance the capacity of pediatricians to assess, diagnose, and care for behavioral health difficulties in their own practice unless it is medically appropriate for that patient to have treatment elsewhere. If that is the case, the care coordinator can help that family find the necessary services in the community.

The project includes 3 Regional Teams. MGH is part of the Eastern Massachusetts Team: Boston North. 

• This program is designed to identify and arrange appropriate mental health services. The psychiatrist’s role is to assist the PCP with prescribing medications if necessary. If further psychiatric or counseling services are needed, short-term treatment may be available while the team helps to find the appropriate community services.
• Direct services of this program may include:

• Assistance with accessing community resources.
• Diagnostic consultation with a psychiatrist or therapist.
• One to four therapy sessions for brief treatment until appropriate community services can be put in place.

• Services are provided regardless of insurance benefits. Insurance carriers will be billed for face-to-face services based on the patient’s insurance.
• Training events for PCP’s will be arranged around topics and needs identified by the PCP’s and provided by MCPAP staff.
• The PCP will continue the ongoing care of the patient unless the PCP and the MCPAP provider deem it as medically inappropriate.
• Although MCPAP does not provide direct crisis services, they consult with PCPs by telephone to provide advice regarding assessment, diagnosis and management of behavioral health difficulties in the primary care setting.
• When indicated they will help facilitate the transfer of care to mental health providers by giving information about local resources that are available. They do not provide ongoing mental health treatment.

Access Number for PCPs to reach the Eastern Massachusetts Team: 855-627-2763

-Adapted from website: https://www.mcpap.com/Default.aspx and from PCP Letter. Thanks to Carol McSheffrey for sharing this resource.

 

Rev 7/19