New mental health options available in NE Iowa

People suffering from serious mental illness in Allamakee, Clayton, Howard, Fayette and Winneshiek counties now have a few new choices for getting help.

A statewide initiative by Magellan Health Services has created teams of health care professionals to help individuals navigate their various mental and physical health services. The free program is called "Integrated Health Homes" and is an expansion of the Medicaid benefits. 

No physical buildings or residential settings are involved with the program--instead the program offers support teams designated to coordinate services for adults and children suffering from serious mental illness.

Northeast Iowa Behavioral Health (NEIBH), Abbe Center for Community Mental Health, and Families First have been chosen to offer this new program in Northeast Iowa.  NEIBH (offering adult IHH) and Families First (offering pediatric IHH) will cover Allamakee, Clayton, Howard, Fayette and Winneshiek counties.  Abbe Center (offering adult IHH) will also offer the program in Fayette County. 

The integrated health teams consist of a nurse manager, a care coordinator, and a peer or family support specialist.  The IHH program does not change the member's current services, but gives the member a team to work together to increase success and recovery.

In order to be eligible to receive services through an integrated health home a person must be enrolled in Medicaid and have a serious mental illness for an adult or serious emotional disturbance for children.  Examples of a serious mental illness for adults are psychosis, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, major depression, bipolar disorder, delusional disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder.  Children may have any mental health diagnosis that impacts their daily life, such as ADHD, anxiety, or depression. 

Those interested in enrolling or know of someone who may qualify should contact Jan Jauert at  NEIBH at 563 382 3649, or Bethany Ellingson at  Families First at 319 505 3710 or  Brooke Alden at Abbe
Center for Community Mental Health at 563-927-6700.

An informational meeting for interested individuals and providers will take place in West Union at the Courthouse on  June 23rd at 1:00 p.m.