At Last: BHI Start Up Grants for Pediatric Primary Care! – WCAAP - Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics

In the 2022 legislative session, WCAAP members advocated for – and secured – $2 million in funding from the state for 10 pediatric primary care clinics to build behavioral health integration. The Health Care Authority has been working diligently on this program and has released information about the application process for these grants.

What you need to know:

The application will be released on February 10^th and clinics will have six weeks to apply before the March 24^th deadline. WCAAP will share the link to apply as soon as the Health Care Authority releases it.
An informational webinar will be hosted on February 27^th from 11:00am – 12:30pm. Register in advance for this webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9BRX0WCoTKieftw1AZ1mbQ
To join the HCA’s list for email updates about the program, click here: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WAHCA/subscriber/new?topic_id=WAHCA_526

Background and proviso language

This grant includes $2 million provided for one-time grants for clinics to establish behavioral health integration (BHI) in primary care clinics for children and adolescents. (SSB 5693 section 211(110))
Grants of up to $200,000 per clinic will be awarded.

Grant money can be used for:

The intention of this grant is to provide funding for primary clinics who have identified the need to integrate behavioral health into their clinic model and who are at the beginning of their BHI integration work.

Grant eligibility requirements

Eligible clinics must demonstrate:

35% of their total patients are enrolled in Apple Health (Medicaid). Priority funding will be given to clinics with the highest proportion of patients enrolled in Medicaid.
Support for BHI program exists at the highest level of clinic leadership.
An arrangement for psychiatric consultation and supervision.
A team-based approach to care that includes the primary care provider, behavioral health professional, psychiatric consultant, patient, and patients’ family.

Eligible clinics must demonstrate a plan to:

Hire a behavioral health professional
Create a registry
Implement universal screening for behavioral health needs
Provide care coordination with schools, emergency departments, hospitals, and any other points of care
Ensure closed-loop referrals to behavioral health specialists
Where clinically indicated, engagement in specialty treatment

Grant application

Who can apply
Primary care organizations can apply for funding if:

Their patients are children and youth (birth through 18 years old)35% or more are enrolled in medical assistance. (RCW 74.09)

They have an arrangement for psychiatric consultation and supervision.

Clients have a team-based structure, including a primary care provider, behavioral health professional, psychiatric consultant, patient, and patient’s family.

How to apply

Name, address, point of contact, clinic administrator information.
Percentage of clients enrolled in medical assistance.
Describe your clinic’s arrangement for psychiatric consultation and supervision. An existing and current policy or procedure document will suffice.
Describe your team-based approach to care and the types of providers in your clinic.

Tags: Behavioral Health