Transportation rules for behavioral health patients go into effect Nov. 1

Posted on: 10/29/21

Effective Nov. 1, the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) will implement a regionally based alternative transportation service throughout Oklahoma in partnership with local transportation vendors. This shift to provide an “alternative transportation” service will fundamentally transform how children and adults requiring inpatient psychiatric treatment are transported to higher levels of treatment settings. 

Alternative transportation vendors contracting with the ODMHSAS will provide transportation services using specially trained drivers to securely assist individuals with getting to the nearest treatment facility when greater than 30 miles away. ODMHSAS’ goal is to assist Oklahoma toward a more person-centered approach to treatment, helping to de-stigmatize mental health and addiction disorders. For additional details about the plan and how to activate transportation services, click here.
 
If you have questions, please contact Heath Hayes, ODMHSAS chief communications officer, [email protected].