FY 2024 behavioral health service expansion - the hamilton county homeless health care center, a joint commission accredited health center, began providing direct primary care, substance abuse, social…

FY 2024 behavioral health service expansion - the hamilton county homeless health care center, a joint commission accredited health center, began providing direct primary care, substance abuse, social services assistance, and case management services to chattanooga's homeless population on may 2, 1988. The county of hamilton D/B/a the hamilton county health department is the federal 330(H) grantee. Over the years, the project has grown from 6 staff to 31 staff and services have expanded to include outreach, insurance enrollment, dental services and vision care. Existing services have expanded capacity as well. The target population is the homeless population in chattanooga, TN and the surrounding hamilton county area. Services are delivered at a fixed site located directly across from the only day shelter for the homeless in chattanooga. Chattanooga is currently struggling with an increasing number of UN-sheltered individuals with mental health and substance use disorder needs. The health center's 2023 UDS data indicates that 46% of all diagnoses are related to mental health and/or substance use disorders. Yet, the health center only has two substance use professionals, no opioid treatment services, and no mental health professionals. In addition, the health center's 2023 community needs assessment revealed that, second to housing and transportation, mental health and substance use treatment were the greatest needs for the homeless population barriers to accessing existing behavioral health care services in the community include a lack of providers, lack of available providers to serve this population, as well as the homeless individual's inability to pay, and competing physical and social determinant needs, including the lack of shelter and transportation. The health center is proposing to increase the number of homeless patients receiving mental and SUD services, including treatment with medications for opioid use disorder for the UN-sheltered in chattanooga. These SE rvices would be provided by the center on-site so that access is immediate and barriers to care are limited. The health center proposes to use an integrated care model providing holistic care. In order to achieve the proposed integration and provide services to the greatest number of individuals possible, the health center proposes the following: 1. Employ 1 licensed mental health/SUD professional to provide mental health and substance use disorder counseling; 1 psychiatric nurse practitioner to assist with medication management; and 1 program coordinator who will also be a licensed behavioral health professional and see patients. 2. Increase the health center's primary care physicians and other primary care providers' capabilities to manage opioid treatment regimens including buprenorphine and naltrexone, thereby implementing moud. 3. Contract with an accredited opioid treatment provider (OTP) to provide staff training and technical assistance in evidence based approaches for treatment with moud. 4. Contract with a psychiatrist to provide provider consultation and oversight for advanced level providers for mental health medication management and treatment. The health center is uniquely positioned to implement the proposed services in that IT currently provides limited behavioral health care. Doing so equips the health center with the experience and the technical expertise necessary for the successful implementation of the proposed program. In addition, all staff hired will be licensed, clinical behavioral health professionals with the program coordinator having additional expertise necessary for the successful implementation of the proposed program. In addition, all staff hired will be licensed, clinical behavioral health professionals with the program coordinator having additional expertise in behavioral health care management.