Frequently Asked Questions

What Is This Network Benefit Plan?
Where Do Network Funds Come From?
What Help Does the Network Benefit Plan Offer?
What About More Serious Mental Illness?
How Can I Receive These Services
What if I Can't Afford To Pay For My Services?
What If I Don't Live In Wayne or Holmes County?
How Do I Become Part of the Benefit Plan?
What Does Enrollment In the Benefit Plan Involve?
Will My Private Insurance Cover My Care?
How Will I Know I'm Getting the Best Services?
Can My Family and I Help Decide On My Own Treatment?
What Family Supports Are Available To Us?
How Can I Be Sure My Treatment Is Successful?
What If I Seek Services Outside The Network?
Do I Have To Enroll In the Network Benefit Plan?

1. What Is This Network Benefit Plan?

The Mental Health & Recovery Network Benefit Plan is the health plan that provides for public funds to be used in payment of services. Network agencies cooperate so that a wide range of treatment options are available to individuals and families as they work toward recovery. These include counseling, medication, case management, housing , job training, consultation with schools, social supports and development of everyday living skills. The network has also been designed to deal with mental health and substance abuse crises that families and individuals sometimes face.
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2. Where Do Network Funds Come From?

The Mental Health & Recovery Board's network is funded by your taxes and is here for you and your family. Voters have approved a one mill, ten year Mental Health & Recovery levy that generates revenue for mental health & recovery care in Wayne and Holmes Counties. Major funding also comes from Federal sources, including Medicaid, and from the Ohio Department of Mental Health and the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services.
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3. What Help Does the Network Benefit Plan Offer?

Quality Mental Health & Recovery services are offered to residents no matter how severe their illness. Many kinds of mental health and addiction problems can be treated through the Mental Health & Recovery network. Personal, behavioral and social problems can be addressed through counseling, medications, support groups and education. Help is available for people of all ages, including children, at network agencies.
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4. What About More Serious Mental Illness?

Serious mental illness, sometimes referred to as brain disorders, are conditions such as major depression, bipolar disorder,schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder. These psychiatric conditions may range from mild to severe and are treated by qualified providers through the Network. Your opportunity for success is increased when you cooperate with the treatment plan suggested by your provider.
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5. How Can I Receive These Services

In an emergency situation, call 1-877-264-9029. If you are not in an emergency situation,the intake department of the agency from which you would like to receive services and request an appointment. A professional staff person will ask you about your situation to make sure the services which that agency provides are appropriate for your needs. You may also be referred to another agency, since the level of care you need may only be available from certain providers.
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6. What if I Can't Afford To Pay For My Services?

Help is provided for people of all income levels. Priority is given to those most in need. You must be a resident of Wayne or Holmes County to be eligible for Network benefits. Non-residents can receive services in a crisis situation.
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7. What If I Don't Live In Wayne or Holmes County?

Special arrangements must be made for people seeking benefit payments if they are a resident of a county other than Wayne or Holmes.
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8. How Do I Become Part of the Benefit Plan?

We want to make it as easy and convenient as possible for local citizens to be able to get the help they need. Any Wayne or Holmes County resident who requests services at one of the provider agencies will be given the opportunity to enroll in the Mental Health & Recovery Board's Network Benefit Plan. Membership in the benefit plan will make it easier to offer you the full range of Board-supported services. Financial assistance offered to you is based on information regarding your specific needs and your financial status. Recent changes in our public mental health & recovery system allow us to better evaluate and monitor local services using modern computer technology.
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9. What Does Enrollment In the Benefit Plan Involve?

When you enroll, you'll be asked to sign a billing authorization statement. This form permits the provider to bill the Board for public funds to help offset the cost of your mental health and substance abuse treatment. During intake, you will be asked about your income, family size, whether you have medical insurance or whether you are covered by Medicaid or Medicare. This information will be entered into a computerized billing system operated by the Board in cooperation with the Ohio Department of Mental Health, Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services and Ohio Department of Human Services.
At intake and enrollment, the agency will also collect specific personal data. This will be kept in the computer system in a confidential file labeled with an anonymous number. Information gathered by the agency will be submitted to the Board. Only information necessary for billing will be stored with your name.
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10. Will My Private Insurance Cover My Care?

Agencies also accept insurance cards. Some network agencies and specific staff professionals are on managed care panels and will work with you to establish whether or not your treatment is covered under your private insurance plan.
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11. How Will I Know I'm Getting the Best Services?

Network agencies' services and facilities are regularly reviewed by the Mental Health & Recovery Board of Wayne and Holmes Counties, the Ohio Department of Mental Health, Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services. The agencies must meet certain standards of quality in order to operate. Many agencies are also accredited by various professional organizations. Treatment staff must have specific degrees, certifications and training as determined by the state departments and professional organizations.
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12. Can My Family and I Help Decide On My Own Treatment?

You are encouraged to be involved in decisions regarding your treatment. This is a right granted to you by state law. In addition, when there is no conflict with confidentiality, families are encouraged to be involved and informed about the treatment being received. In most cases, the more a family is part of the individual's care, the more progress can be made.
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13. What Family Supports Are Available To Us?

Families dealing with severe mental illness may wish to join the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) and local support groups such as Families In Touch for Mental Health, affiliated with NAMI. Family to Family is a 12-week course taught by local NAMI members which provides information and support to families dealing with major depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Agencies also have information available for alcohol and drug abuse support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Ala-non and Ala-teen. In addition, support and education is available for families dealing with domestic violence.
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14. How Can I Be Sure My Treatment Is Successful?

In order for you or your family to receive the most benefit from the services, you must think of yourself as part of the treatment team. Family members of both children and adults are also important. They give support and help the one they love do what needs to be done to recover.
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15. What If I Seek Services Outside The Network?

Enrollees are encouraged to use local services that are part of the network. If an enrollee seeks services in another county, or outside the network, special arrangements need to be made and some benefits may not be available.
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16. Do I Have To Enroll In the Network Benefit Plan?

You may choose not to enroll. In that case, however, you may not qualify for all treatment and services available through the Network of agencies. Other arrangements will need to be made for covering your treatment costs if you do not enroll, and you may be billed.
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