Silvia Fernandez, MD - Gastroenterology
UnitedHealthcare Awards $500,000 To Five Federally Qualified Health Centers To Increase Access To Behavioral Health Services
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Michigan awarded five federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) $100,000 grants to expand access to behavioral health services across the state. The FQHCs include Cherry Health, Family Health Center, Great Lakes Bay Health Centers, InterCare Community Health Network and MidMichigan Community Health Services.
"Our FQHC partners work tirelessly to ensure individuals in the communities we serve are able to obtain critical care like behavioral health support," said Dennis Mouras, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Michigan. "It is an honor to collaborate with them to ensure Michiganders receive the services they need to support their mental health."
Each of the FQHCs have dedicated the grant funds to specific projects:
"We are very appreciative of the support from UnitedHealthcare, which will help us improve the lives of all of our patients," said Eileen Chiang, vice president of corporate services and CFO, Family Health Center. "We continue to focus on refining our services to ensure that we are meeting the needs of our patients. As part of these efforts, the grant is helping us advance behavioral health and substance use services for community members in Kalamazoo County."
Nearly 30% of adults in Michigan report experiencing symptoms related to anxiety or depression. Many people in need of behavioral health care or substance use treatment are unable to access it in a timely manner due to provider shortages, particularly in rural areas. The grant recipients recognize that there is a need to increase access to care and deploy innovative programs to drive better behavioral health outcomes in Michigan.
"Through the generous grant provided by UnitedHealthcare we have been able to implement training for all of our mental health providers in suicide screening and assessment and started new psychosocial groups at the organization's largest site in Benton Harbor," said David Gamble, director of behavioral health and SUD services, InterCare Community Health Network. "Additionally, we are making plans to invest in recruitment and retention, as well as technology, to improve our workforce capacity and efficiency to provide the level of access that will meet the needs of the communities we serve."
UnitedHealthcare serves more than 1.7 million members enrolled in Medicaid, employer-sponsored, individual and Medicare and retirement plans in Michigan, with a network of 156 hospitals, and over 55,000 physicians and other care providers statewide.
About UnitedHealthcareUnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and making the health system work better for everyone by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. In the United States, UnitedHealthcare offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 1.6 million physicians and care professionals, and 8,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. The company also provides health benefits and delivers care to people through owned and operated health care facilities in South America. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified health care company. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.Uhc.Com or follow UnitedHealthcare on LinkedIn.
Gen Z Could Change The Way Health Care Is Delivered
Mark RichardsonOhio News Connection
Mental health coverage and using digital devices to communicate with doctors' offices are among the health care priorities of Generation Z.
Providers are urged to make note of the needs of patients born between the mid-1990s and the early 2010s. Industry researchers say like a lot of other age groups, Gen Z embraces telemedicine. But as these individuals begin to navigate adulthood, they also value online apps that make it easier to schedule appointments, manage conditions and look up data.
Dr. Donald Tavakoli, national medical director for behavioral health with United Healthcare, said this generation wants to feel empowered when receiving care.
"What we know about Gen Z is they have significant rates of mental illness," he said. "And that is a time where mental health issues are prominent in terms of the health care needs of that age range."
He added Gen Z deserves praise for normalizing conversations regarding behavioral health amid nationwide calls to expand mental health. There are about 68 million Gen-Zers in the country, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, many of whom are just finishing their education and looking for their first job.
Tavakoli said as those in Gen Z enter the workforce, they are looking for health care that fits their lifestyle. Because they report higher rates of depression, eating disorders and even suicidal behaviors, he says it is important they understand terms such as deductibles, co-insurance and out-of-pocket when signing up for plans.
"They have significant rates of mental illness, so we think it's really important that they first have their health insurance lingo down – really understanding the common terms of how to navigate health insurance."
Industry experts say because they prioritize their mental health, these individuals are likely to seek out employers who offer packages with quality behavioral health coverage.
"Wellness and rewards programs are really important," he continued. "Remember, our physical health and mental health are intertwined. So many of those incentives for everyday healthy living have positive prevention impact on your mental health as well."
Pictured at top: Experts in health care say Generation Z – especially those born in the late 1990s – prefer to have a lot of their care at their fingertips, including tracking conditions, setting up appointments and consulting with doctors. (Wikimedia Commons)
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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