Behavioral health services include both mental health and substance use disorder services. These services are provided through behavioral health managed care organizations (BH-MCO) that are overseen by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services’ Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS).
You do not need a referral from your primary care provider (PCP) to get behavioral health services, but your PCP will work with your BH-MCO and behavioral health provider(s) to help you get the care that best meets your needs. You should tell your PCP if you or someone in your family is having a mental health or substance use problem.
You can find the BH-MCO that serves your county here. The BH-MCO can help you find providers that treat mental health and substance use disorders.
You can call your BH-MCO toll-free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also call the UPMC for You Health Care Concierge team at 1-800-286-4242 to get contact information for your BH-MCO. TTY users should call 711. Help is available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
If you have questions about transportation to behavioral health care appointments, you should contact your BH-MCO.
If you are thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Help is available 24/7 across the United States.