Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) is all set to receive a funding of $32,376,142 from the State of California in phases over the next two years to encourage behavioral health integration with traditional health care. The grant will then be distributed among local medical organizations of IEHP so that providers are able to improve physical and behavioral health outcomes, care delivery, and patient experiences by developing or expanding integrated care practice models.
- Dr. Takashi Wada, IEHP vice president of population health, said: “Nearly two million California residents are suffering from a serious mental illness and need treatment. This support from the state will allow us to respond to this need and work to improve upon the current system and how care is accessed and routinely provided. Funds will also provide for further collaboration with our providers to support the whole person health of our community.”
- To be eligible for the funding, proposals that responded to the state’s objective were sought from providers engaged in primary care, specialty care, perinatal care, hospitals, and behavioral health providers.
- Of the 83 proposals received, the Department of Health Care Services approved 32 projects from 20 organizations whose goal is to improve an existing system and support access to mental health treatment for countless residents in the Inland Empire.
- The projects will cover basic behavioral health integration, maternal access to behavioral health, medication management for those who are mentally ill, diabetes screening for those with mental illness, and hospitalization/emergency room follow-up for those who were treated for mental illness.
- IEHP chief medical officer Dr. Karen Hansberger said, “We are very eager to move forward with this initiative and grateful the state recognizes this tremendous need. We have so much ground to cover in this space and are fully committed to partnering with our Providers to do all we can to ensure our members and communities have the opportunity to enjoy optimal care and vibrant health in every way possible.”