COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Resources
For information related to Magellan Behavioral Health, HealthChoices Services, member handbook, eligibility, etc., please call the Lehigh Magellan member line at 1-866-238-2311 or for (TTY) 1-866-238-2313. Information can also be accessed by clicking on the following link: http://www.magellanofpa.com/
For concerns or comments about the Lehigh County HealthChoices Program and/or Magellan Behavioral Health, you can:
o Contact the Consumer and Family Satisfaction Team through Recovery Partnership at 610-861-2741 or,
o Contact HealthChoices staff member Liz Fox (lizabethfox@lehighcounty.org) at 610-782-3520 or,
o Contact HealthChoices staff member Erika Shoemaker (erikashoemaker@lehighcounty.org) at 610-782-3842.
To view the current & archived Magellan's Member Newsletters - please click on link below
Magellan's Member Newsletters
While you are in there be sure to sign up to receive the newsletters electronically
Magellan of PA website: www.MagellanofPA.com Lehigh County Magellan Member Handbook Lehigh County Magellan Member Handbook (español) New videos help members, families access services:
Magellan has produced two videos for members and their families to help them become informed and active participants in their own healthcare plans and decisions. Hosted by peers who share their lived experiences with behavioral health services, each video answers common questions, addresses the apprehension some individuals may feel when seeking or receiving these services, and helps them understand what to expect.
The videos provide key information, as well as tips and resources, in an easy-to-understand format. Below are the topics and links to the videos:
· Getting help for mental health challenges
· Taking psychiatric medication: It’s your choice
Resources available for Suicide Prevention Month, Recovery Month in September
Magellan Health is supporting Suicide Prevention Month, which is observed nationally each September and aims to draw attention to the devastating effects of suicide and how to prevent it.
Barry M. Smith, chairman and chief executive officer of Magellan Health, Inc., and Sam K. Srivastava, chief executive officer of Magellan Healthcare, have issued a statement about the observance. September is also National Recovery Month, created to increase awareness and understanding of mental and substance use issues and celebrate the people who recover.
As another way to show our support for both of these observances, Magellan has developed information sheets with details about how to prevent and cope with suicide, as well as details about mental health and alcohol and drug dependency. We encourage you to share these guides with individuals, their families and anyone else who may benefit.
Suicide Prevention Month:
How to cope and heal after a suicide
When a friend or family member commits suicide
Recovery Month:
Mental health: A key part of wellness
Alcohol and drug dependency
eMpowered for Wellness! Peer Support Whole Heart and Wellness e-news
Videos tell compelling stories of peers making a difference A message from Tom Lane, CRPS, senior director, consumer and recovery services
In this special edition of eMpowered for Wellness, we feature Magellan Healthcare's new videos highlighting the role of peer and parent/family peer support in the behavioral health recovery process. Six Magellan staff members who represent a range of peer and family support services in the organization highlight their unique experience and success with helping others. I am honored to have participated in this exciting project.
At Magellan, we employ highly skilled individuals with lived experience both directly and indirectly, through our provider networks across the country, and actively include peers and family peers as part of the recovery process. Their work is unique and powerful.
'As the first company to recognize the critical role of peer support in the recovery process 17 years ago, Magellan considers peer/family peer support to be an invaluable service to our members.' - Tom Lane, CRPS, senior director, consumer and recovery services
See the videos
Participants discuss how they offer support, strength and hope to their peers, which allows for personal growth, wellness promotion and recovery. View the following videos on our E-Learning Center.
A focus on COVID-19 during May Mental Health Awareness Month
Find information at the following links and on our dedicated COVID-19 response page for support:
Blog post: "Stamp Out Stigma During May: Mental Health Awareness Month" here
The loss of normalcy: Coping with grief and uncertainty during COVID-19
Magellan launches Stay Home for MY LIFE virtual youth events
Magellan Healthcare is offering its Magellan Youth Leaders Inspiring Future Empowerment (MY LIFE) program virtually for youth ages 13-23 who have experience with mental health, substance use, juvenile justice and foster-care-related issues. In response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Magellan Healthcare has transitioned its MY LIFE program to facilitate virtual participation by interested youth across the country no matter where they are located. Held every Thursday from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. Eastern until stay at home orders are lifted, the weekly events feature nationally recognized inspirational speakers, uplifting entertainment, fun activities and information on a variety of topics important to youth. Youth and young adults interested in Stay Home for MY LIFE can find more information and register at facebook.com/MYLIFEyouth. Since 2008, Magellan’s MY LIFE program has been leading the way nationally for youth in behavioral health and foster care systems, allowing them to share their stories and support each other in their goals. Through regular meetings, special events, performances, social media, and local and national presentations, youth create positive change for themselves and others in their communities. Find more information about the MY LIFE program here.
Digitally delivered peer support
A message from Thomas Lane, NCPS, CRPS, senior director, community and recovery supports
Welcome to Magellan’s May 2020 edition of eMpowered for Wellness. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, and social distancing becomes the new normal, we have seen rapid expansion of digitally delivered peer and family support. Take a look at our feature article this month on emerging issues and considerations for using technology to reach others.
Check out the new and improved Magellan Healthcare eLearning Center, where you will find previous versions of this newsletter, webinars and learning opportunities, including for continuing education credits, health literacy materials and other resources! Share this newsletter with friends and colleagues and encourage them to sign up to receive it along with occasional announcements about new resources and shared learning opportunities!
Mark your calendar for upcoming events!
June 11, 2020, 3:00 – 3:30 p.m. Eastern, Magellan Healthcare #bhXPERT Twitter chat, Post-adversity growth through COVID-19 Join us on Twitter with special guest Gary Proctor, MD, senior behavioral health medical director, Magellan Complete Care of Virginia, as we discuss increased anxiety and fear triggered by the pandemic and constant news.
June 18, 2020, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Eastern, Magellan Healthcare webinar Magellan is pleased to announce Dr. Karen Fortuna will be joining us to share the latest developments and research directions for digital peer support.
Every Wednesday from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Eastern, caregiver support group meetings You’re invited to our Caregiver Support Group meetings. These free groups provide a safe place for any caregiver, guardian, parent, grandparent, family member, etc. to talk through their struggles and successes, and to learn from one another.
Access 2020 eMpowered newsletters and webinar recordings Newsletters
Webinars for CE credits
Magellan Healthcare COVID-19 resources
We continue to monitor developments around the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Visit our dedicated website, including information and resources for our communities, clients, members and providers, such as:
Implications of digital inclusion, an emerging social determinant of health, and COVID-19
Welcome to Magellan’s April 2020 edition of eMpowered for Wellness. In this month’s feature article, I’ll make the case for why I believe digital inclusion is an under recognized social determinant of health.
In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, healthcare providers, including peer and family support specialists, are responding by transitioning to virtual visits via various telehealth platforms, making digital inclusion even more important today. We are seeing peer support services adapting quickly, with peer-run and traditional provider organizations ramping up capabilities for tech-enabled/tech-assisted peer support. CMS is even relaxing some of the requirements for telehealth, in an effort to offer Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries virtual access to healthcare providers. Many commercial insurers are following suit. However, a digital divide exists across the U.S for many people. This is especially true for folks living with disabilities and those reliant of publicly funded healthcare services. Many rural and frontier communities still do not have reliable high-speed internet service. In some cases, folks are dependent on dial-up connections. No matter where you live, you may not have access to the devices necessary for a digital connection. With the COVID-19 pandemic looking like it will continue to be of major concern for months to come, the role of telehealth and telemedicine has quickly come to the forefront of discussions about how folks can access healthcare in light of social distancing and stay-at-home orders. Read the full article here.
April 16, 2020 eMpowered for Learning webinar, "Social Inclusion and Recovery"
Join our upcoming no-cost webinar scheduled for April 16 from 2 – 3:30 p.m. Eastern. Gain knowledge and strategies to advance social inclusion and recovery for people living with psychiatric disabilities and/or addictive disorders. Tom Lane will facilitate.
May 14, 2020 Magellan Healthcare #bhXPERT Twitter chat, “Youth Recovery and Wellness: It’s More Than Just Clinical Services” The Magellan Healthcare #bhXPERT Twitter chat series provides a forum for industry thought leaders and anyone interested in behavioral health to discuss current topics and share knowledge to raise awareness, advance progress and reduce stigma. It takes place on the second Thursday of each month at 3:00 p.m. Eastern and lasts a half an hour.
Every Wednesday from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Eastern, Caregiver Support Group meetings You’re invited to our Caregiver Support Group meetings. These free groups provide a safe place for any caregiver, guardian, parent, grandparent, family member, etc. to talk through their struggles and successes, and to learn from one another. We meet every Wednesday from 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. Eastern.
Access 2020 eMpowered newsletters and webinar recordings (for CE credits)
“Technology can be used to make people’s lives easier, to reduce inequality, to facilitate inclusion, or to solve intractable global problems, but without dialogue and governance, it can be used against humanity – the choice on how we use technology is ours.” - Sharan Burrow
We’re looking for your feedback! Take our one-question online survey to share your feedback about our newsletter! It takes less than a minute to complete. We value your opinions and ideas! Access the survey.
No-cost, on-demand learning opportunities Check out Magellan’s on-demand webinars and micronars in our Recovery and Resiliency e-Learning Center. You can also surf through an archive of our previous presentations, e-newsletters, health literacy materials and other resources!
Magellan has been creating and sharing the eMpowered for Wellness e-newsletter for more than six years, starting with our first issue in the fall of 2012. We continue to offer thought provoking articles on a range of topics, along with resources to advance peer support and peer-provided services throughout healthcare systems and in the community. Please share this e-newsletter with friends and colleagues, and encourage them to join our email list to receive it along with occasional announcements about new resources and shared learning opportunities!
Provider Notice
We are pleased to announce the addition of our new Member and Family Advocate, John G. Lees, MSW, LSW, to the Magellan team. John will be dedicating his time to HealthChoices members in the Lehigh and Northampton counties. He is available at 610-814-8025 or JGLees@MagellanHealth.com
As a licensed social worker for 16 years, John possesses skills in a variety of settings, including outpatient mental health, residential treatment facilities, crisis intervention, juvenile detention, and children's services, provide him with a well-rounded approach to member's needs.
He holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania, and has worked at Magellan in various capacities, including child and adolescent care manager, child and adolescent care management supervisor, and director of clinical and operations training. John's previous positions included serving as executive director for KidsPeace in Bethlehem, Pa.; psychotherapist for Klingberg Family Center in New Britain, Conn.; and safe school specialist at Project Reach in Delaware County and a crisis clinician for Community Behavioral Health in Philadelphia.
In his role, John will serve as a liaison between Magellan and members, their families and other support individuals. This position will be a source of information and referral; serve as a guide for families seeking services and solutions on behalf of member; advocate for fair processes and aid in answering questions and concerns.
In addition, John will act as a neutral representative and provide direct conflict resolution services, including coaching, facilitation and mediation between members, families, employees, providers, clinics and other inter-departmental areas. He will also assist in facilitating appropriate access to care through identification and prevention, analyzing root causes of challenges and identifying strategies for resolutions.
Please join us in welcoming John to his new role at Magellan. www.MagellanProvider.com
Making a difference for our members and clients
For over 50 years, Magellan Healthcare has served the behavioral health needs of our members through innovative programs and services. While helping our members live happier, healthier and more independent lives, we've lowered our clients' costs. Using our innovative digital solutions, 74% of our Pennsylvania members with moderate to severe anxiety reported 22% improvement in symptoms.[1]
Learn more about our results Visit MagellanHealthcare.com/BehavioralHealthManagement. And while you’re there, find new information on our behavioral health solutions, services for children, and peer support and recovery and resiliency program.
Are we overdiagnosing autism?
Researchers say the changing criteria for autism may be resulting in an overdiagnosis of the condition. Read the Healthline article, "Are we overdiagnosing autism?, " featuring Yagnesh Vagdama, Vice President of Clinical Care Services - Autism at Magellan Health, where he shares his thoughts on the topic.
Read the article here.
Magellan releases model for serving high-risk children and adolescents on Nov. 21, during the national federation of families for children’s mental health annual conference, Magellan Healthcare will present its new, research-based model for the prevention and treatment of children and adolescents. pat hunt, director of child and family resiliency services and part of the team that created the model, will present the approach that keeps youth and their families central to the decision-making process and addresses individuals’ needs, strengths, preferences and culture. Magellan's model:
Mental Health America introduces video featuring Magellan’s Integrated Health Home Initiative mental health america (mha) and itn productions recently selected magellan as the only managed care company to feature in a new, online program examining the current state of mental health in america, aiming to improve mental health services and provide a better understanding of mental health conditions to help identify them far sooner.
#b4stage4 is an in-depth, online program specifically aimed at those working to improve mental health across the nation. the news-style piece combines key industry interviews and news-style reports with sponsored editorial profiles of some of the leading organizations in the sector, including magellan.
magellan highlights its integrated health home (ihh) initiative in iowa in its segment of the program, demonstrating the positive impact of the initiative from the perspective of a member and the ihh provider who has helped the member throughout the recovery process.
“campaigns such as itn and mha’s #b4stage4 are essential to eliminating stigma and promoting hope,” said Jim Stringham, Senior Vice President, Magellan Healthcare, who is featured in the video along with Magellan complete care’s Chief Medical Officer Chuck Cutler. “Magellan is appreciative of the opportunity to be a part of this program, through sharing one of our initiatives that addresses whole person health and wellness—our integrated health home. we hope that this story will inspire others to continue their recovery journey.”
see the #b4stage4 program at http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/b4stage4-program. to access Magellan’s segment, hover over the video and click the word “playlist” at the right of the video screen. Magellan’s is the last video in the playlist. read more about the #b4stage4 program in the press release from mha and itn.
Magellan sponsors new documents from national building bridges initiative targeted to family-serving systems
the building bridges initiative (bbi) recently published two new magellan-sponsored documents for child welfare, juvenile justice and mental health leaders interested in fostering permanency and positive long-term outcomes for youth: a building bridges initiative guide- finding and engaging families of youth receiving residential interventions: key issues, tips, and strategies for residential leaders
Magellan’s sponsorship of these documents is part of a long-standing national partnership with the bbi in supporting their efforts to identify and promote practice and policy that creates strong and closely coordinated partnerships and collaborations between families, youth, community, and residentially based treatment and service providers, advocates and policy makers, to ensure that comprehensive mental health services and supports are available to improve the lives of young people and their families.
Magellan in Louisiana’s Margaret Mitchell receives award for work in advancing peer support
Margaret Mitchell, Director of Consumer Recovery for Magellan Health in Louisiana, has received the Chris French award, the highest honor from the Louisiana association of substance abuse counselors & trainers (lasact). during its annual conference last week, Iasact awarded Margaret for her efforts in advancing peer support as a professional designation and her collaboration with the association to develop a structured and recognized credential.
throughout the event, Margaret, along with Children’s System Administrator Foley Nash and Lead Peer Specialist Carla Neely, shared information about the programs we manage in Louisiana and the successes of our work toward including peer support as a recognized professional complement to clinical services in the state.
the first company to recognize the critical role of peer support in the recovery process, Magellan considers peer/family peer support to be an invaluable service to our members. we employ individuals with lived experience both directly and indirectly, through our provider networks across the country, and actively include these individuals as part of the treatment process. hundreds of peers currently participate in Magellan’s programs, and we continue to explore new ways to effectively expand peer support choices for our members nationwide.
what is peer support?
the use of peer supporters, individuals with mental health, substance use or co-occurring challenges who are living well in their recovery and are trained to help others with similar challenges, is recognized as an evidence-based practice and a key component of recovery-focused programs. these individuals are able to relate with their peers through shared experiences in a uniquely personal way.
the videos highlight each staff member’s unique experience, expertise and success with helping others. participants discuss how they offer support, strength and hope to their peers, which allows for personal growth, wellness promotion and recovery.
“we have very highly skilled, experienced, knowledgeable people doing peer support. their work is unique and powerful. Magellan is an industry leader in bringing the value of peers to programs through initiatives designed to improve member engagement, increase access to care and realize improved personal health outcomes.” tom lane, senior director, consumer and recovery services, and video participant
Pilo Bueno, director, recovery and resiliency, Magellan/Presbyterian Healthcare Services, New Mexico
Cheryl Dehaven, manager, recovery and resiliency, Magellan of Virginia
Elyse Hunt, peer recovery navigator, Magellan of Virginia
Pat Hunt (family peer support), Director, child and family resiliency services, Magellan Healthcare
Tom Lane, Senior Director, consumer and recovery services, Magellan Healthcare
Alex Ramos, peer support specialist, Magellan complete care of Florida
Cross-systems collaboration creates a stronger HealthChoices Program A message from Jim Leonard, CEO, Magellan Behavioral Health of Pennsylvania, Inc.
Magellan has a long history of expertise with collaboration, care integration and system building for behavioral health (BH) and other complex populations. We collaborate with counties, human service agencies, Single County Authorities, justice agencies, crisis response agencies/organizations, school districts, stakeholders, and BH and physical health providers to strengthen and expand the capabilities of each community. Read more COVID-19 announcement: For all of our provider updates, go here. Magellan's national 24-hour mental health hotline for first responders and healthcare workers is 1-800-327-7451 (TTY 711)
COVID-19 trainings for providers and other health professionals
Find several national resources for COVID-19 related trainings in one convenient location. Read more
Census 2020: What to expect
It's important to be counted in the census to positively impact our community. Read more
Text message reminders available for follow-up care
There are many benefits to our Text Reminder Program for follow-up care after a behavioral health hospitalization. Read more
Help identify and manage your patients' behavioral health
With Magellan's PCP Toolkit for medical providers, you hold the tools to deliver integrated quality care and coordinated behavioral healthcare. Read more
Food insecurity resources are available
During COVID-19, unemployment claims have sharply increased and many individuals and families face a new reality of food insecurity. Read more
Magellan earns full accreditation for three more years from NCQA
NCQA reviews include rigorous on-site and off-site evaluations conducted by a team of physicians and managed care experts. Read more
Community resources including food pantries, utility support and more
Our website offers over 200 local, state and national helpful resources. Read more
Important updates for providers
Provider Focus is updated frequently to include important local updates and information critical to your day-to-day operations. You will find other updates on our website under "For Providers."
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, Title V, defines health literacy as the degree to which an individual has the capacity to obtain, communicate, process and understand basic health information and services to make appropriate health decisions. We need to pay attention to health literacy needs as part of any community health activity. With this in mind, we are pleased to offer our readers access to our health and wellness library, including health education and interactive tools. These resources are offered at no cost and are available in English and Spanish.
Interactive Tools for health, fitness and lifestyle
If you would like to learn more about health literacy, check out the Centers for Disease Control Health Literacy for Public Health Professionals free on-demand e-course. It provides an excellent introduction to the subject of health literacy, including why it matters and applying health literacy to practice.
We’re looking for your feedback! Take our one-question online survey to share your feedback about our newsletter! We value your opinions and ideas! Access the survey.
No-cost, on-demand learning opportunities Check out Magellan’s on-demand webinars and micronars in our Recovery and Resiliency e-Learning Center. You can also surf through an archive of our previous presentations, e-newsletters, health literacy and other resources!
A message from Jim Leonard, CEO, Magellan Behavioral Health of Pennsylvania