Local Planning and Network Development

Overview

Welcome to the DSHS website for Local Planning and Network Development (LPND).

DSHS has developed this website to provide information to private providers who may be interested in the provision of mental health services in collaboration with Local Mental Health Authorities throughout the State of Texas.

This new collaborative approach to service provision is detailed in Title 25, Texas Administrative Code (25 TAC), Chapter 412, Subchapter P. This approach will allow for a standardized, transparent process for planning and developing a network of mental health service providers, emphasize a choice of providers, and allow for local control through stakeholder input while requiring the network to be managed by the LMHA. This website is meant to assist interested service providers in negotiating the application process to become part of a local provider network.

On this website, DSHS provides:

• Links to Resiliency and Disease Management (RDM) and other important information
• Minimum service requirements
• Service capacity information for each local service area, to include
  • contractual service targets for the number of adults and children/adolescents to be served
  • current state funding allocation for each LMHA; and
  • actual number of adults and children/adolescents served in each RDM service package.
• A mechanism for providers to indicate their interest (see Provider Interest Inquiry Form on each LMHA webpage on this site), and
• The resulting list of interested providers for each local service area.

Providers may submit a description of their qualifications, including their experience as it relates to the same or similar services and populations defined in the RDM service packages. Information submitted by interested providers will be posted on this website.

This list of potential qualified providers is made available to assist LMHAs in making their procurement decisions. The existence of listed qualified providers in an LMHA’s service area should not be interpreted by the LMHA as requiring procurement.

Project Implementation Plans

The rule requires that each LMHA develop a two-year local plan for the development of an external provider network. When approved by DSHS, the LMHA’s plan will be posted on its website. To facilitate the planning process, the state has been divided into three (3) cohorts or geographically-related group of LMHAs, with each cohort starting the planning process according to a staggered timeframe. Training for the LMHAs will be provided prior to the start of their cohort’s planning process and the dates will be posted at this site when determined.

The cohorts and starting dates are as follows:

Cohort 1: Planning begins February 1, 2008.

LMHAs in this cohort include ACCESS, Andrews Center, Burke Center, Gulf Coast Center, Heart of Texas, Lakes Regional, Brazos Valley, Harris County, Texoma, Community HealthCORE, Spindletop, Tri-County, and Texana.

Cohort 2: Planning begins March 1, 2008.

LMHAs in this cohort include Austin Travis County, Bluebonnet Trails, Border Region, Camino Real, Center for Health Care, Central Counties, Coastal Plains, Gulf Bend, Hill Country, Nueces County, and Tropical Texas.

Cohort 3: Planning begins April 1, 2008.

LMHAs in this cohort include Betty Hardwick, Center for Life Resources, Central Plains, Denton County, El Paso, Helen Farabee, Lubbock Regional, Tarrant County, Concho Valley, Pecan Valley, Permian Basin, Texas Panhandle, and West Texas.

Each LMHA has 180 days to complete their plan and submit it to DSHS for approval. During this time, there will be a number of opportunities for stakeholder input.

Information For Potential Providers

Providers who are interested in providing mental health services in one or more of the LMHA service areas are directed to select the link of that LMHA from the list of participating LMHAs.

At each LMHA site is posted pertinent information regarding the service area. The Provider Interest Inquiry Form may be accessed from each LMHA webpage. If the provider is interested in serving more than one LMHA area, one Provider Interest Inquiry Form must be completed for each LMHA.

Interested providers may also wish to review the list of RDM service requirements and other standards, and the list of definitions for each service package.

Local Planning Process

DSHS recognizes that the Local Mental Health Authorities have specific roles and expectations to work towards the realization of the goals of the Local Planning and Network Development process. Interested parties may want to learn more about the Local Authority Role and Expectations.

Contact Us

For more information, please send an email to LPND@dshs.state.tx.us.

This page was last modified November 13, 2007