Local Management Entity (LME)

What is the Local Management Entity (LME)?

The Local Management Entity (LME) is a Division of the Albemarle Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Center that provides management and oversight for mental health, developmental disabilities or substance abuse services in the following areas: Access, Triage, and Referral for consumers; Monitor, Approve, and Manage funding resources; Develop and Monitor Provider services; Ensure Customer Services & Consumer Rights; and Ensure Quality Management & Outcomes for individuals residing within the ten county catchment area (Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Hyde, Martin, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington).

The LME . . .

Assists individuals in obtaining mental health, developmental disabilities or substance abuse treatment, services or supports. One of the functions of the LME is to ensure that individuals within the six county catchment area have appropriate information about services to assist them in choosing the provider of their choice for care and treatment.

What is Access to Services?

“Access to Services” is the procedures by which staff assist an individual in obtaining care. The Access Unit is staffed with clinically trained professionals who initially assess and evaluate an individual’s level of need as to whether he/she requires routine, urgent, or emergent attention.

When an individual telephones the LME, an Access Officer will ask questions about the presenting problems, needs, and preferences. After these items have been determined, the Access Officer will share information with the individual regarding providers within the community that might best meet the needs and preferences of the individual. The Access Officer will offer to coordinate the first appointment with the provider of their choice.

What happens after I talk with an Access Officer?

The Access Officer will send the screening information to the provider of your choice and authorize the provider to conduct a more detailed assessment of your needs. When you arrive for your first appointment, you and the provider will discuss your level of needs, your desires for outcomes, your preferences, and determine if this provider can best meet your needs. If so, you and the provider will initiate a Person Centered Plan. At various intervals, your level of need will be re-assessed, your Plan revised if appropriate and the treatment, services or supports you receive authorized by the LME in conjunction with your provider of choice.

Questions?

Please call (252) 338-8352 or toll free at 1-888-338-8352.