SMA Behavioral Healthcare Awarded U.S. Health and Human Services Grant

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Dec. 6, 2016 - PRLog -- Ivan Cosimi, CEO of Stewart-Marchman-Act Behavioral Health Services (SMA), is pleased to announce that SMA has been awarded a $1.6 million grant, to be used over the next four years, from the US Health and Human Services Department's Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The grant will be utilized to implement a Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration (PBHCI) Health Home to serve adults with a serious mental illness (SMI) and those with co-occurring substance use disorders who are currently receiving outpatient psychiatric care at SMA's Daytona Beach Outpatient Clinic in Volusia County, Fla.

The staff positions being added to perform these duties include a Project Coordinator/Nurse Manage, a part-time medical ARNP, one full time, and one part time Integrated Care Manager, and one Peer Wellness Coach.

The project will be implemented using the Tennessee Cherokee Health System (CHS) model as the foundation and will be guided by SAMHSA/HRSA Center for Integrated Health Solutions' Standard Framework for Levels of Integrated Healthcare.

Cherokee Health Systems is making notable strides in integrated care with 14 clinical sites in Tennessee and its model integrates behavioral health consultants as key members of primary-care teams with behavioral health and prevention part of every well-patient checkup and prenatal care.

Due to the nature of their psychiatric illness and their lack of financial resources, SMI individuals have significant risk factors for or currently have untreated co-morbid primary care conditions and chronic diseases, including obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and respiratory problems.

"Integrated care is about improving client outcomes," said Ivan Cosimi, SMA CEO. "Our goal is to educate and motivate our clients, and help them become engaged and empowered to take control of their overall health."

SMA will prioritize enrolling those who currently do not have access to primary care and those who are uninsured, and will assist clients in securing Medicaid/Medicare, SSI/SSDI, private insurance and other benefits for which they may be eligible.  The project's goals and objectives align with SAMHSA's triple aim of improving the health and wellness of individuals with SMI and co-occurring substance use disorders who are at risk for or have co-morbid medical conditions;  enhancing the consumer experience of care (quality, access, reliability); and reducing/controlling the per capita cost of care.

SMA will co-locate the Health Home onsite at their Daytona Beach Outpatient Clinic with the goal of full collaboration in a transformed/merged integrated practice by the fourth year of the grant.  SMA's strategic plan includes a goal to expand the PBHCI Health Home model to all SMA Outpatient Psychiatric clinics in its four-county area.

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About SMA Behavioral Health

SMA Behavioral Healthcare has been serving the northeast Florida community with mental health and drug treatment services for over 50 years.  SMA provides more than 35 mental health and substance abuse programs, providing prevention, diversion, intervention, and treatment services, delivered to diverse client populations Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns, and Volusia counties.

SMA Behavioral Healthcare's mission is to deliver exceptional and comprehensive behavioral healthcare to individuals and families in our community. SMA's vision is of a community where addiction and mental illness are treated promptly, comprehensively and with respect for all. Contact SMA at 800-539-4228 or online at http://www.smabehavioral.org/ or stay connected on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SMABehavioralHealthServices.