FY 2024 Behavioral Health Service Expansion - As a Health Center Program grantee, InterCare has been providing comprehensive primary care to area residents and migrant and seasonal farmworkers in six Michigan counties along the Lake Michigan shoreline for over 50 years. At its seven fixed locations, InterCare offers access to a full range of diagnostic, treatment, referral, and preventive services. In addition to medical and dental care, the organization provides WIC, a state-funded school-based clinic, mobile medical care, a migrant outreach services. In 2023, the organization provided 138,369 visits to 38,956 unduplicated users. We provided 15,326 Mental Health visits and saw 497 unique patients in SUD services. It is InterCare’s mission to improve access to basic health services and reduce health disparities within the underserved residents in our communities. InterCare is committed to enhancing our mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) services, including medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD). To achieve this, we seek funding to implement a range of initiatives designed to increase unique patient visits and engagement while improving the quality of care. With these initiatives, InterCare is proposing to provide an additional 4500 mental health & MOUD encounters over the course of two years. This proposal outlines our comprehensive plan to address existing barriers and expand our service offerings to better serve our community. Initiatives: 1) We will strengthen our mental health services as we are adding a part-time psychiatric nurse practitioner in our Holland health center to improve access to those who may have faced challenges with local community mental health services. We will support this MHNP with a part-time Case Worker to support these patients cared for by our 2 psychiatric NPs. 2) Hire 2.5 FTEs in peer recovery coaches to support patients through shared personal experiences. Peer coaches will help reduce relapse rates, improve communication, and provide holistic care. We will also add a 1 FTE Care Manager for our North SUD patients to support their care from a holistic view point. 3) Expand transportation support in order to remove a major barrier to care through reimbursement of patients for transportation costs to provide consistent access to care. This addresses the significant barrier of limited public and Medicaid transportation, ensuring all patients can receive treatment. 4) Strengthen collaborations with emergency departments, rehab facilities, and other community organizations. This will enhance our presence in the community and improve patient referrals and care coordination. 5) Purchase software to provide ADHD testing for Medicaid and uninsured patients, addressing a critical gap in our community that is accessible and affordable services. 6) InterCare plans to upgrade office furniture and install sound barriers to ensure compliance with HIPAA and enhance privacy as well as replacing worn chairs to prevent infection risks while creating a more comfortable environment for patients. 7) Implement Care Minder app by each patient to expand our MOUD services and strengthen partnerships with community members which will enhance the support system for patients undergoing treatment for opioid use disorder. Conclusion: The requested funding will allow InterCare to significantly expand and enhance our behavioral health services. By addressing key barriers to care such as privacy, transportation, and service awareness, we aim to increase patient engagement and improve health outcomes. InterCare has been a long-standing proponent of integrated care having originally formed its first such partnership with a local mental health authority in 2001 to train and deliver co-located, fully integrated services at its Berrien County sites. With this legacy, InterCare is well positioned to leverage its experience, talent, and resources into a broad-based organization wide opportunity.
