Transaction Description:
FY 2024 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICE EXPANSION - EAST HILL FAMILY MEDICAL DBA EAST HILL MEDICAL CENTER HEALTH CENTER PROGRAM GRANT #H80CS24163 PROJECT SUMMARY EAST HILL MEDICAL CENTER (EH) BASED IN AUBURN, NY SEEKS $600,000 IN YEAR 1 AND $500,000 IN YEAR 2 TO EXPAND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES IN CAYUGA COUNTY. EH IS AN ESSENTIAL COLLABORATOR IN THE LOCAL CONTINUUM OF CARE TO ADVANCE HEALING OF INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND/OR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED THIS PROJECT WILL ADDRESS THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROVIDER SHORTAGE AND NEED FOR EXPANDED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SUD SERVICES IN CAYUGA COUNTY. DEMAND FOR SERVICES EXPLODED DURING THE PANDEMIC AND REMAINS ELEVATED, ESPECIALLY AMONG YOUTH. ACCORDING TO CAYUGA COUNTY DATA, YOUTH SUICIDE ATTEMPTS INCREASED BY 50% FROM 2019 TO 2023. 16% OF THE 1,057 CRISIS VISITS MANAGED BY CAYUGA COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER IN 2022 WERE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN CRISES. WITHIN THE LAST MONTH, EH STAFF WITNESSED A SUICIDE ATTEMPT BY A YOUTH WHO JUMPED OFF A PARKING GARAGE ROOF ACROSS FROM THE HEALTH CENTER. PRIOR TO THAT, ANOTHER YOUTH COMMITTED SUICIDE BY SETTING THEMSELVES ON FIRE AND JUMPING OFF THAT SAME ROOF. ADDICTION TO DRUGS AND/OR ALCOHOL AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES WERE IDENTIFIED AS THE TOP TWO HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS WITHIN CAYUGA COUNTY IN THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT’S 2022-2024 COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT AND IMPROVEMENT PLAN PREPARED WITH AUBURN COMMUNITY HOSPITAL. ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND SUD SERVICES WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE TOP FIVE HEALTH SYSTEM ISSUES FACING THE COMMUNITY. RECURRING TRENDS IDENTIFIED INCLUDE NEWBORNS WITH NEONATAL WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS, TOBACCO USAGE, AND SUICIDE MORTALITY RATES. CAYUGA COUNTY IS ILL-EQUIPPED TO MEET THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS OF ITS RESIDENTS. THE COUNTY IS A HRSA-DESIGNATED HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SHORTAGE AREA FOR MENTAL HEALTH ALONG WITH PRIMARY CARE AND DENTAL. PROVIDER SHORTAGES CAUSE LONG WAIT TIMES AMIDST GROWING COMMUNITY NEED; CASELOADS ARE OVERLOADED PLACING PROVIDERS AT RISK OF BURNOUT. PROPOSED SERVICES THIS PROJECT WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF EH PATIENTS RECEIVING MENTAL HEALTH AND SUD SERVICES INCLUDING MOUD TREATMENT, THROUGH PLANNING, STAFFING, FURNISHING OF ADDITIONAL OFFICE/CLINICAL SPACE, TRAINING, ACCESS TO MEDICATION AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING. EH WILL HIRE A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PRACTICE CONSULTANT WELL VERSED IN OPERATIONAL BEST PRACTICES TO ASSESS CURRENT OPERATIONS AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE SCREENING, CARE NAVIGATION, WORKFLOWS, BILLING, ETC. EH WILL USE FUNDS TO FURNISH AN ADDITIONAL SUD EXAM ROOM, THERAPY ROOM, AND TWO ADDITIONAL OFFICE SPACES TO SUPPORT NEW HIRES. EH WILL CONTRACT WITH A BOARD-CERTIFIED OUTPATIENT CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRIST WHO HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED, BRINGING A RARE AND COVETED RESOURCE INTO OUR RURAL COMMUNITY. EH WILL ALSO HIRE A FULL-TIME LMHC/LMSW/LCSW WITH SUD EXPERTISE. FUNDS WILL BE USED TO PROVIDE MAT TRAINING TO EH PROVIDERS AND NURSING STAFF. TO MITIGATE INCOME AND/OR INSURANCE-RELATED BARRIERS TO CARE, EH WILL UTILIZE A POOL OF FUNDS FOR MEDICATIONS DEEMED NECESSARY FOR TREATMENT WHERE COST IS A BARRIER FOR PATIENTS. FUNDS WILL ALSO BE USED TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING AND RELATED EXPENSES INCLUDING SUPPLIES AND PERSONNEL. PROGRAMMING IDEAS INCLUDE IN-SCHOOL EDUCATION ON DRUG ABUSE AND THE IMPACT ON FUNCTIONING, OPERATION OF A YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE GROUP, SUMMER ART THERAPY PROGRAM, ADOLESCENT DBT GROUP, AND IN-SCHOOL YOUTH EDUCATION ON DEALING WITH TRAUMA OR COPING WITH LOSS OR ANY VARIETY OF TOPICS. POPULATION GROUPS TO BE SERVED SERVICES WILL BE OFFERED THROUGHOUT THE SERVICE AREA. POPULATIONS OF FOCUS INCLUDE CHILD AND ADOLESCENT YOUTH, JUSTICE-INVOLVED, UNHOUSED OR HOUSING VULNERABLE, LGBTQIA+, PEOPLE OF COLOR, FIRST RESPONDERS AND VETERANS. EH SERVES PRIMARILY RESIDENTS OF RURAL CAYUGA COUNTY, OVER THREE QUARTERS OF PATIENTS ARE PUBLICLY INSURED THROUGH MEDICAID, MEDICARE AND/OR CHIPS. TWO-THIRDS HAVE HOUSEHOLD INCOMES BELOW 200 PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LI NE.
