Medica Administrative Manual > Health Management and Quality Improvement > Care Management > Behavioral Health Program

Behavioral Health Program

The purpose of the Medica Behavioral Health (MBH) program, administered by Optum, is to provide support, recommendations and resources to members who live with a mental illness and or experience emotional and functional disruption due to a life event, like a change in health, a recent loss or exposure to trauma.

 The program offers several case management interventions, and is designed to improve health outcomes, improve quality of life, and reduce overall care costs by supporting members to fully engage in the resources available to them, including speedy access to the providers they need at the right time and in the right place. MBH collaborates with providers by ensuring benefit information is known and leveraged to support members to meet their treatment goals.

Eligible members have access to licensed behavioral health professionals, which could include psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, clinical counselors and drug and alcohol counselors. Through telephonic case management, the Medica Behavioral Health team takes an integrated approach to assist members in managing their mental health, substance use and physical health, sometimes with the additional support of a nurse case manager with physical health specialty.

Case Management interventions include specific opportunities for members who are:

• Transitioning back to home after an inpatient psychiatric hospitalization.
• At risk of a psychiatric or substance use related hospitalization/ re-admission.
• Have a physical health condition and an undiagnosed or under-treated mental health condition.
• Age 18 or younger, or the parent/guardian of a child/adolescent with a complex behavioral health condition. 

For more information about MBH, please call 1 (800) 848-8327.

REV 1/2024