Illinois DocAssist aids primary care providers in identifying available resources for their patients whose mental health needs cannot be met in the primary care setting. Resources often include therapy, psychiatric services and other social services and supports. Whether a family has “Medicaid”, a managed care Medicaid plan or private insurance, DocAssist will assist in locating appropriate and accessible resources. We will call the referral resources to determine it’s validity and to find up to date information about service types, wait times, and availability. We make every effort to recommend resource that have reasonable wait times (less than 4 months) unless the service is so specialized that the long waits are universal (e.g., autism evaluations, neuropsychological testing, child psychiatrists, etc.).
Due to long waits and lack of availability of mental health services, consultation services are offered in conjunction with referral assistance. Often the consulting primary care practitioner will need to provide support, education and coordination for the family until services are available.
