Mobile crisis response services and crisis receiving center contracting

As of January 1, 2024, care providers who are interested in being contracted for mobile crisis response services and/or being contracted as a crisis receiving center in our Commercial and Medicaid networks need to sign a specific agreement for these services, as they are not included in the behavioral health agreement for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and its affiliate HealthKeepers, Inc.

If you are interested in contracting for these services, please contact your Anthem network manager. If you are unsure of how to identify or reach your network manager, please visit anthem.com and follow these steps: Select For Providers under Communications, then select Contact Us. Change the state to Virginia, choose Additional Support, and then choose Physician Provider Network Managers Contact List as appropriate.

The Anthem network manager will have you fill out a Healthcare Delivery Organization (HDO) application. The credentialing process will begin once the below specialty selection is made:

☐ Crisis stabilization unit

Mobile crisis response scope of services

Mobile crisis response services refer to assisting people in returning to their equilibrium, prevention of harm to the individual or others, provision of quality intervention in the least restrictive setting, and the development of an immediate plan of safety to help avoid higher level of care. Services must be provided in-person with the exception of telemedicine assisted assessment and care coordination activities. Services must be recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate, and integrate Zero Suicide/Suicide Safer Care principles.

In addition, mobile crisis care providers should conduct an assessment and screening (inclusive of the pre-screening activities for involuntary commitment) and be sensitive to members cultural identity and lived experiences. 

The scope of mobile crisis response services includes the following:

• Provided in the community location where individual exists
• De-escalation and resolution of crises
• Brief therapeutic and skill building interventions
• Engaging peer and natural supports
• Safety planning
• Coordination with the crisis call center
• Linkage with ongoing services and supports
• Coordination with law enforcement, emergency responders, state certified pre-screeners, and facilitation of involuntary admission when necessary

Licensure required

Mobile crisis response service professionals should:

• Be licensed by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services as a provider of outpatient crisis stabilization services.
• Be trained according to the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services requirements.
• Hold an active Memorandum of Understanding with the regional crisis hub via the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.

Crisis receiving center scope of services

Crisis receiving center refers to a community-based facility licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to provide short-term assessment, observation, and crisis stabilization services.

Licensure required

New crisis receiving centers must obtain a center-based crisis receiving center licensure from the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.

Additionally, by October 15, 2024, current 23-hour crisis stabilization care providers will also have to obtain a center-based crisis receiving center licensure from the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. Once credentialing is complete, our market will provide a professional agreement to the provider for execution and inclusion in our Commercial and Medicaid networks.