Date: October 31, 2022
To: All Medical Assistance Program Providers
Re: Updates to the Designated Network of Mobile Crisis Response Providers
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This notice informs providers of an update to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services' (HFS) designated network of Mobile Crisis Response (MCR) providers.
HFS uses Designated Service Areas (DSAs), previously referred to as Local Area Networks (LANs), to establish the geographic boundaries of crisis accountability for designated MCR providers. Each DSA has one or more designated MCR providers, uniquely credentialed by HFS as responsible for receiving all crisis referrals for MCR services from the Crisis and Referral Entry Service (CARES) hotline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Designated MCR providers provide urgent MCR screening and assessment services to Medicaid-eligible children and adults in both the fee-for-service and managed care service delivery systems, as well as MCR services to children eligible for the Screening, Assessment, and Support Services (SASS) program.
Effective at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, November 1, 2022, HFS will update the geographic boundaries of the DSAs. In some areas of the state, this will result in a change in the designated MCR provider. A map of the new DSA structure, along with a listing of the designated MCR providers for each DSA, can be found here.
There are no changes to the process for making a crisis referral. The CARES hotline will continue to serve as the single point of entry into the statewide HFS-funded crisis system for children and adults, adjudicating crisis referrals and dispatching local crisis workers, when appropriate. CARES will dispatch the appropriate designated MCR provider using the updated DSA information beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, November 1, 2022. Referrals for customers experiencing a mental health crisis can be made 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year by calling the CARES line at 1-800-345-9049.
Questions regarding this notice may be directed to the Bureau of Behavioral Health at 217-557-1000 or HFS.BBH@illinois.gov.
Kelly Cunningham, Administrator
Division of Medical Programs
