Private support is increasingly funding vital programs and services that are not funded by the state or federal government

Places for People's Community Support Services and Psychosocial Rehabilitation Center are funded, in part, by a mix of state and federal Medicaid dollars. 80% of PfP's clients are eligible to receive Medicaid-reimbursed services, which are provided in accordance to each client's individual treatment plan.

HOW MEDICAID WORKS
Medicaid is a program designed to provide low-income Americans with health care. Children as well as disabled, elderly and blind individuals are also eligible for Medicaid, if they meet certain income restrictions. Medicaid is the largest payer for mental health services in the country and is a partnership program between state and the federal government. In Missouri, roughly three-fifths (60%) of all Medicaid funding comes from the federal government, with the remaining from state coffers.

Many high-need clients, who visit PfP's offices and The Club on a daily basis regularly exceed the level of services that are reimbursable by Medicaid.

PURCHASE OF SERVICE
Annually, Missouri Department of Mental Health (DMH) provides PfP with a Purchase of Service Contract that reimburses PfP for providing community support services and psychosocial rehabilitation to individuals who are not currently receiving Medicaid. Clients must also meet certain DMH mental health criteria for PfP to be reimbursed for these services. The reimbursement rate for a purchase of service contract is the same as Medicaid, and utilizes the same billing rules as Medicaid, but federal funds do not support this program. 20% of PfP's clients rely on Purchase of Service care.

GRANTS Grant support provides 21% of PfP's operating budget. These funds are allocated, in part, to PfP's homeless outreach teams, to housing assistance for homeless clients and to integrated treatment services, which assists individuals living with severe mental illness and addiction disorders.

Many grants are time-limited and cannot be renewed. Certain grants provide restricted funding for specific activities, while other grants support the general operating budget, or day-to-day costs of business. Throughout its 35 year history, PfP has never rejected or stopped providing services to a grant-supported clients when a grant ends.

In the previous fiscal year, foundations provided more than $850,000 to support PfP's programs and services.

Programs designed to assist individuals struggling with addiction disorder and homelessness were supported by Missouri Foundation for Health and Saint Louis Mental Health Board, which receives funds from an special tax approved by St. Louis city voters.

Labels: Funding, Medicaid, Spring 2007