Issue link: https://tmcpulse.uberflip.com/i/515661
t m c » p u l s e | m a y 2 0 1 5 8 "They are similar to the neighbor- hood minor emergency rooms you see all over the place, but they offer psychiatric services," explained Carlos Guerra, M.D., medical director for psychiatric response case management at Memorial Hermann Health System. "Right now we have two clinics—one on the northeast side of Houston and the other in the Spring Branch area. It allows us to see patients quickly and start them on medications if need be, or help get them in with a psychiatrist in their area." Payment for these clinics is deter- mined on a sliding scale, allowing Memorial Hermann to treat a wide range of patients regardless of insurance status. funds made available through Texas' Medicaid 1115 Waiver program, which was approved in Dec. 2011 to expand reimbursements for uncompensated care costs and support a Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) pool to incentivize hospitals and other providers to develop pro- grams that would enhance access to health care. Through the DSRIP system, health- care organizations have created new, collaborative strategies for lowering the cost of care while improving access and quality. Ben Taub was able to increase its clinical behavioral health programs and outpatient services substantially, and DePelchin Children's Center col- laborated with the University of Texas to send therapists into schools and out into the community to help with pre- vention and treatment. It has been a significant benefit to the mental health community, but leaders are wor- ried about the fate of these programs if funding is not renewed when the waiver expires Sept. 2016. "We also work to help patients acquire insurance if they qualify but for some reason don't have it," Guerra said. "Our goal is provide care and assistance while patients are waiting to get into outpatient treatment programs, so helping them secure funding is an important part of what we do." Guerra described the clinics as a godsend for the community. "I can't tell you what a neat experience it has been to hear patients constantly saying thank you so much for being here, thank you so much for seeing us. I had one patient who had to tell me three times to make sure he drove his point in, he said, 'No, sir, you don't under- stand. You saved my life.'" The clinics are partially funded by CONTINUING TO INVEST IN PEDIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH WILL HELP ENSURE THE CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA HAVE ACCESS TO THE INPATIENT BEDS, OUTPATIENT APPOINTMENTS, TREATMENT PROGRAMS, AND SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY-BASED INTERVENTIONS THEY NEED.