Dallas, Texas—September 23, 2005—In conjunction with the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), the Dallas Area NorthSTAR Authority (DANSA), and provider organizations, ValueOptions is successfully assimilating evacuees into the NorthSTAR program.

In the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, metropolitan areas across Texas are hosting tens of thousands of evacuees. Many of those displaced by the disaster are in need of immediate behavioral health treatment and/or medication refills.

By design, the NorthSTAR care model is prepared to accommodate a dramatic increase in consumers. ValueOptions, the managed behavioral healthcare company that operates the NorthSTAR program alongside DSHS and DANSA, is working hand-in-hand with network providers to directly engage evacuees and ensure that needed services are available and easily accessible. In this effort, the NorthSTAR effort is facilitating:

• Round-the-clock mobile crisis services dispatched to critical areas and immediate enrollment for eligible evacuees
• On-site psychiatric assessments, clinical management, and utilization review
• Accommodation of volunteer physicians and coordination with Red Cross volunteers
• Onsite pharmacy services to ensure that evacuees have access to needed medications
• Referrals to mental health outpatient services and transportation services for evacuees to off-site service locations
• Housing placement that matches victims with non-profit housing providers

“The structure of the NorthSTAR program has allowed us to quickly meet the diverse needs of these evacuees,” said Derald Walker, CEO ValueOptions’ NorthSTAR operations. “We are working closely with the state and with our network providers to connect these people with critical behavioral health services.”

“These people are tired, they are under a tremendous amount of stress, and many have no one to turn to,” adds Linda Fite, executive director of DANSA. “It is important that we do everything we possibly can to answer their behavioral health needs and help them cope with the emotional aftershock of this terrible tragedy. The comprehensive, flexible nature of the NorthSTAR program model allows us to accomplish these goals.”

For more information on NorthSTAR's efforts around Hurricane Katrina, please click here.

About DSHS
The State (Department of State Health Services- DSHS) contracts with ValueOptions to provide behavioral health services for the NorthSTAR program. DSHS also oversees and manages all activities related to the NorthSTAR program in which ValueOptions and DANSA are involved. Through this oversight, DSHS is able to ensure that Texans in the NorthSTAR program have access to effectively delivered public mental health and substance abuse services. For more information, please visit www.dshs.state.tx.us.

About DANSA
The Dallas Area NorthSTAR Authority (DANSA) is the local behavioral health authority for Collin, Dallas, Ellis, Hunt, Kaufman, Navarro and Rockwall Counties. DANSA was created by the Commissioners Courts of each of the seven counties to oversee the managed behavioral (mental health and chemical dependency) healthcare service delivery system which serves persons eligible for Medicaid and/or public behavioral health funds in the NorthSTAR Region. For more information, please visit www.dansatx.org.