Direction’s Intensive Outpatient Program is now making use of the physical expansion that took place during the summer, and we are currently seeing about 15 adolescents per day. We also have our Parenting Groups and Aftercare Groups underway, and the Anger Management Group is ready to go as well. To date, we have served over 140 adolescents, and by all measures the program has been an unqualified success.
Our only disappointment so far is that we have not yet been able to bring our services to clients with Medicaid, despite continued intensive efforts on our part to develop a contract with the State. It is notable that we have been able to develop contracts with every other insurer with whom we have worked to date. We have been told by the folks in Medicaid and the Bureau of Behavioral Health that the problem is with the current political climate in Concord, and they are essentially not authorizing contracts with any new programs at present. The Nashua Court System filed an application to establish a contract with us about 6 months ago, but we have been told our application has still “neither been accepted nor rejected”. Because we believe so strongly in our program’s worth to all area adolescents, we will continue our efforts despite these roadblocks. If you would be interested in helping us in our cause to bring our services to clients with Medicaid, please contact us.
One thing we all know is that obstacles are an inevitable part of life. We at DBHA will continue to "practice what we preach" -- facing obstacles head-on, and teaming with our allies in continuing to improve and expand behavioral health services to our community.
Duncan Gill, MD
Joe Walsh, LCMHC
Bob Cashen, LSW
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