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Trillium presents tailored-plan update to Columbus County commissioners; cites expanded coverage and local initiatives
Summary
Trillium, the local LME-MCO, briefed commissioners on its expanded tailored-plan coverage, member counts, local services including mobile behavioral health units, Narcan distribution, housing placements and outreach to schools; commissioners asked about program data and school uptake.
Trillium, the local behavioral-health managed-care organization, updated Columbus County commissioners on services delivered since the July 2024 launch of its tailored plan and described local efforts to expand access to behavioral health and related supports.
Cecilia Piers, Trillium's regional vice president for the southern region, told commissioners Trillium now covers 46 counties and that the tailored-plan launch July 1, 2024, integrates behavioral and physical health for members. For the July'December period following the launch, Piers said Trillium served about 1,500 county members; the total value of services for those members was reported at a little over $16 million for the period cited.
Piers described several local programs: mobile behavioral-health units operated by Coastal Horizons and RHA Health Resources for areas without nearby providers; distribution of 240 naloxone (Narcan) kits and hundreds of xylazine and fentanyl test strips; a housing team that reportedly moved eight Columbus County residents out of homelessness in the past year and is working with three additional people to find housing; and family-focused camp weekends arranged through Victory Junction.
Commissioners asked about the effectiveness of a school-based substance-use prevention curriculum and were told some legislative changes requiring parental opt-in have limited the program's measurable uptake; Trillium staff said they would meet with local school representatives to seek improved participation data. Piers said caller response times on Trillium's call line have improved to about 12 seconds after early high call volumes during the tailored-plan launch.
Trillium also described the Healthy Opportunities pilot that uses Medicaid funds for social services — housing, food and related supports — and said the pilot shows about an $80 per person per month reduction in billed services where those social supports are provided. Piers encouraged county nominations to Trillium's consumer and family advisory committee and noted county appointees on regional advisory boards.
