BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – The Louisiana Department of Health’s Office of Behavioral Health has a $6.5 million increase in its FY27 budget for the statewide crisis hub supporting the Louisiana Crisis Response System.
The Office of Behavioral Health said it is contracting with local providers in each region to expand access through mobile crisis units and stabilization centers. The goal is to have all components of the crisis response system in every region of the state by the end of the year.
Gaps in coverage
Some areas of the state currently lack most crisis services. Region 5, which covers the Lake Charles area, has no crisis services beyond the 988 line, according to the department.
In the Baton Rouge area, the Bridge Center for Hope serves as a crisis stabilization center. The region has mobile crisis units for youth, but currently lacks a mobile crisis unit for adults. The department said it has identified a provider to fill that gap, though the provider has not yet begun operating.
The New Orleans metropolitan area also has a crisis stabilization center. A coalition in the Lafayette-Acadiana area, including local government, health systems Ochsner and FMOL, and behavioral health providers, is working to develop a business plan to stand up a center there.
How the system works
Dr. Holly Howat, Interim Assistant Secretary for the Office of Behavioral Health, said the department wants 988 to serve as the entry point for the full range of behavioral health services.
“We’ve been working really hard to expand the role of 988,” Howat said. “We really want it to be a front door for anyone that needs to access any level of what we call behavioral health. And when we talk about behavioral health, we’re talking about people with mental health problems or mental illness, people with substance use problems, gambling. But it could also just be you’re a little emotionally distressed because you had a bad day.”
The Office of Behavioral Health does not provide direct services. Instead, it contracts with local providers across the state to deliver mobile crisis response and stabilization services.
Legislation and funding
The department is also monitoring a pre-filed bill, HB 909, filed by Rep. Annie Spell, that would require commercial insurance to help cover the cost of crisis services. That bill has not yet been heard in committee.
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