Press Release
New Crisis Stabilization Unit Opens

NRI Community Services is pleased to announce the opening of a new 10 bed Crisis Stabilization Unit on November 8, 2009 - the NRICS @ SSTAR program.

This new service provides integrated clinical and medical services for persons with mental health or combined mental health and substance abuse problems who are in crisis. The program is covered by Medicaid and most other Rhode Island health plans, and will reduce costs by providing a hospitalization alternative and a billing rate approximately one-third the daily cost of a hospital stay.

NRICS’ team of mental health and substance abuse professionals offer short stay, non-hospital based crisis stabilization and integrated behavioral health services. The NRICS @ SSTAR Program is located in a homey and welcoming site that is adjacent to the existing 23 bed unit for uninsured with co-occurring problems that is operated by SSTAR of Rhode Island at 1950 Tower Hill Road in North Kingstown, RI. An open house for referral sources was held on November 6, 2009.

This opportunity came as a result of a collaborative effort by the State of Rhode Island Office of Health and Human Service’s Medicaid Unit, and the Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals’ Behavioral Healthcare unit to reduce behavioral healthcare costs. MHRH recently promulgated licensing regulations for staffing, care standards and a billing rate approximately one-third the daily cost of a hospital stay.

Richard Crino, RN, CTR, QMHP, NRICS’ Vice President of Acute Services heads up this specialized program. Salaried and consultant MDs, Masters level nurses with prescribing privileges, and three shifts of nursing, counseling and direct care staff have been selected to serve clients 24/7 at NRICS @ SSTAR.

This project is the culmination of several NRICS initiatives. The agency has previously operated a 5 bed crisis diversion program in Woonsocket that successfully reduced inpatient hospital utilization rates and demonstrated the value of immediate access to psychiatry for medication adjustments, the benefits of a 24/7 residential stabilization option, and the value of peer support during a crisis period for individuals living with long term mental health challenges.

Secondly, this project emerges out of a highly successful collaboration with SSTAR of Rhode Island in supporting their 23 bed diversion unit for uninsured Rhode Islanders with combined mental health and substance abuse problems.

Finally, this project represents success for NRICS in its long standing advocacy for a Medicaid crisis/respite rate to guard against the overuse of hospital level care in Rhode Island for psychiatric emergencies. Christian L. Stephens, President/CEO of NRI Community Services, singled out key individuals in addition to NRICS staff, that enabled NRICS to offer this new resource: Michael McAfee, Administrator of DBH Licensing Services and Tom Martin, Administrator, DBH Community Services at the Department of MHRH; Elena Nicolella, Director of Medicaid services at DHS; Jon Brett, Director of SSTAR – RI; and Nancy Paull, President/CEO at SSTAR.

Stephens noted “This project would not be possible without our unique relationship with SSTAR of Rhode Island. They cover the food services, housekeeping, medical records, medical screening, and client transportation components of this program and, more importantly, are great partners in sharing staff between the SSTAR unit and the NRICS@SSTAR unit.”

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