Mental health providers lining up first deal. (Access Mental Health Alliance)

Access Mental Health Alliance, a group of Portland mental health professionals that formed in July, has won tentative approval for its first service contract.

Under the deal, the 30-member Access Mental Health and about 50 similar professionals on staff at Oregon Health Sciences University Hospital will provide the mental health services for those who sign up for ODS Health Plan's new health maintenance organization plan.

The managed care coverage is scheduled to start in January, complementing ODS Health Plan's traditional indemnity health and dental coverage.

"It's a rather unusual contract," said Dr. Robert Gross, a psychologist and co-chairman of Access Mental Health, referring to the mix of private professionals with public OHSU mental health workers. Details of …