History of CPBHC (Central PA Behavioral Health Collaborative)
& Blair HealthChoices

Realizing that economies of scale, service and program efficiencies may only be accomplished through some regional partnership, in 1994 nine County Administrators, and Drug and Alcohol directors began meeting to prepare for HealthChoices. These Counties included Bedford/Somerset, Blair, Centre, Huntington/Mifflin/Juniata, and Lycoming/Clinton. The Counties worked on:

• Preparation of Managed Care Readiness Survey
• Presentation on County by County Readiness
• HealthChoices Behavioral RFP Discussions
• MA Data Analysis Survey Discussions
• Compilation of In-County and Out-of-County Providers

In 1997, the group reorganized into a smaller group of four Counties consisting of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Blair [H/M/J &B]. The remaining Counties worked independently.

For three consecutive years the County Commissioners Association of PA awarded the H/M/J & B group financial support to work on the following activities:

• Review of provider services including location, access, program, and staffing
• Assessment and review of the Southwest Counties RFP from DPW and completion of the RFP readiness survey (from the Southeast RFP)
• Completion of MCO interviews and evaluations
• Discussion regarding Management Information Systems
• Reviewed MCO MI Systems
• Assessed BSU functions as compared to commercial MCO functions via a daylong retreat.

With the release of the HealthChoices North/Central Timeline in April 2001, Blair, Cambria, Centre, and Huntingdon/Mifflin/Juniata Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Programs began working together to develop an organizational structure to respond to HealthChoices.

In the Spring of 2001, the Central PA Task Force received a grant award from the County Commissioners Association of PA to continue their cooperative efforts to plan for HealthChoices. The counties worked on the following HealthChoices preparations:

• Review of Administrative and Organizational Structures for HealthChoices implementation
• Analysis of County and collective provider networks
• Medical Assistance expenditure analysis
• MCO RFP development
• Dictionary of terms.

In the Spring of 2002, the Central PA Task Force counties of Blair, Cambria, and Huntingdon, Mifflin, and Juniata were awarded financial support from the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania to continue their HealthChoices preparation efforts. In this grant period, the counties’ efforts have centered on the following items:

• Development of consumer/client/family communication plan
• MCO RFP development
• Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement
• Analysis of the Central PA Task Force provider network
• Actuarial RFP development
• Model development.

In February of 2003 the Task Force was incorporated as the Central PA Behavioral Health Collaborative [CPBHC].

Following a pre-qualification letter, Blair issued RFP for BH-MCO to serve as managed care organization for Blair County in the June of 2003. After reviewing and rating the responses CPBHC selected CBHNP/HASPA as the BH-MCO of chose for Blair County. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between CPBHC and CBHNP/HASPA in December 2003.

In July 2003 Joint Venture Agreement signed with Capital Area Behavioral Health Collaborative (CABHC) to provide consultation and managerial support to CPBHC.

In October of 2003, OMHSAS announced that the expansion of HealthChoices would be delayed. A period of inactivity followed, until January of 2006, when OMHSAS issued an options paper proposing an expansion plan for the remaining 38 non-HealthChoices counties. Blair County elected the right of first opportunity to manage the program and met the requirements outlined by OMHSAS in February 2006. In July of 2006 OMHSAS issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for North Central Zone.

September 2006 an Administrative Agreement between Blair County and CPBHC was signed to give CPBHC the responsibility of administering the HealthChoices program for Blair County.

In July 2006, Huntingdon, Mifflin, and Juniata withdrew from the joint venture. Blair decided to proceed on their own as CPBHC

In August 2006, CPBHC Bylaws approved.

Blair submitted their response to the RFP in October 2006. The proposal was approved in November 2006. Subsequently, a Cost Proposal was submitted to OMHSAS in December 2006. Cost negotiations for the Per member per month (PMPM) figure were completed in February 2007.

Readiness Review Documents issued in January 2007. CPBHC submitted the initial response in
March 2007. The on site Readiness review was held May 2007. Readiness activities continued through July 2007.

Blair County signed contract with Department of Public Welfare (DPW) for the HealthChoices program in May 2007

In the Spring of 2007, HASPA/CBHNP dissolved their relationship. In May 2007 CBHNP partnered with SIGNIFICA/BCNEPA as a guarantor. Contract negotiations between Blair and SIGNIFICA/BCNEPA began in May of 2007 a final contract was signed in July of 2007.

CPBHC opens office in Hollidaysburg in June of 2007.

July 1st 2007 HealthChoices begins operation in Blair County.

In July 2007, CPBHC decided to operate under the name Blair HealthChoices.