Zach, VIA Health's regional community-relations director, briefed the Ashe County Board of Commissioners March 17 on behavioral-health initiatives and storm recovery supports operating in the region.

Zach said VIA has begun operating a tailored Medicaid plan for members with moderate or severe behavioral-health disorders or intellectual and developmental disabilities, and described the plan's scope: behavioral health, pharmaceuticals and physical-health coordination. "At Avaya, we call our tailored plan, Avaya Total Care," Zach said, using the name he provided in the briefing.

He said the plan's network includes hospitals, health systems, federally qualified health centers, health departments, primary- and specialty-care practices, behavioral-health providers and pharmacies, and that members may be assigned a tailored care manager to help navigate services. Zach also described a Hope for NC grant VIA is operating to assist people impacted by the hurricane and a local mental-health forum working on teen-suicide-prevention and post-hurricane recovery.

Commissioners asked about caseload changes and outreach; Zach said the need has increased since the storm and that VIA offers a toll-free line for people seeking help regardless of insurance status.