Apalachee center ccbhc expansion grant - apalachee center's certified community behavioral health clinic (ccbhc) expansion project will bring lifesaving, evidence-based healthcare services into the…

Apalachee center ccbhc expansion grant - apalachee center's certified community behavioral health clinic (ccbhc) expansion project will bring lifesaving, evidence-based healthcare services into the predominantly rural florida panhandle. By adding needed substance use services and expanding integrated behavioral and primary healthcare services, apalachee center intends to improve the overall health of the community IT serves. The population of focus are individuals with serious mental health and/or substance use disorders. Outpatient substance use services will target adults struggling with addiction and in need of support to achieve recovery. Additional primary care services will target apalachee patients in leon, gadsden, and madison counties in need of primary health care. Since people with behavioral health conditions are at increased risk for diabetes, obesity, heart disease, HIV, and other diseases, IT is vital that they have access to preventative and primary care. Integrating behavioral and primary healthcare will ensure that all health providers are communicating, planning treatment together, and avoiding unnecessary duplication of tests and assessments. IT is anticipated that the project will serve 300 unduplicated individuals in year 1 and 400 individuals in year 2, for a total of 700 individuals over the lifetime of the project. The first goal of the ccbhc project is to decrease adult substance use and its negative consequences by implementing evidence-based interventions such as medication-assisted treatment, counseling (motivational interviewing), peer recovery support, and community narcan® distribution. IT is anticipated that these services will result in decreased substance use, decreased drug-related mortality, and increased recovery capital. The ccbhc project also aims to integrate primary and behavioral healthcare through colocation of medical staff in apalachee's behavioral health outpatient clinics to improve care coordination and lower barriers to accessing comprehensive healthcare. The objective is to improve health outcomes for patients with serious mental illness and substance use disorders through provision of integrated healthcare. Apalachee will ensure that patients who do not have access to primary care receive annual physical exams, are screened for hypertension, receive thorough diabetes care if needed, are counseled on smoking cessation, and receive any other medical care they require.