Is the Mental Health Millage money being used to transition Ottawa County to a system of Socialized Health Care?
Looking at the where the mental health millage money is allocated and what programs is it funding provides more evidence that the mental health millage is funding the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC). Although it may have ‘health clinics’ in its name, a CCBHC is not a physical clinic, but instead the infrastructure of a budding socialized health care system. It appears that the nonprofit organizations being funded by the mental health millage are part of this socialized medical system being established in Ottawa County, and these nonprofits are synonymous with direct care organizations (DCOs) as referenced in CCBHC requirements.
Below, there are groupings of organizations that received mental health millage funding in 2023. In order to form an approved CCBHC that is eligible to receive funding through government channels, certain requirements must be met. Although each grouping of organizations listed below received mental health millage funding, the organizations also appear to satisfy specific requirements of CCBHCs, indicating that the mental health millage could actually be being used to establish a socialized system of care.
CCBHCs require inpatient services such as psychiatric treatment, detoxification, and crisis care for consumers. CMH board meeting notes from March 2022 and 2023 show requests for increases to specialized residential services.
Specialized residential received $1,754,152 of mental health millage funding.
Benjamin’s Home $327,500
Georgetown Harmony Homes $189,152
Harbor House Ministries $327,500
Heritage Homes, Inc. $330,000
Holland Deacons Conference $200,000
MOKA $300,000
Parkview Adult Foster Care (AFC) $80,000
Specialized residential refers to adult foster care (AFC) homes that provide residential services. There are many AFC providers in Ottawa County, but the AFC’s that received mental health millage funding are some of the largest providers, and many of them happen to be constructing new facilities. CMHOC handles a large percentage of funding for AFCs through Medicaid in association with caring for individuals with intellectual and developmentally disabilities (IDD). When it was proposed to increase funding to these facilities to ‘cover gaps in the system’ most people assumed the funding was associated with IDD care. And why wouldn’t they? CMHOC produced a video associated with the mental health millage labeled Specialized Residential Stabilization Programs.
The video tugs at the heartstrings. It shows specialized intellectual and developmentally disabled (IDD) residents receiving routine care from community living supports (CLS) providers. The problem is, this type of care is covered with Medicaid funding and it is against the law to supplement Medicaid services. Therefore, these payments could not have been used to cover gaps in funding for IDD residents, but were rather likely used to fund the establishment of a CCBHC. Which ‘gaps’ were being filled? Was it gaps in funding of CCBHC grants that we needed to construct crisis residences to meet CCBHC requirements?
Additionally, these AFC’s have new direct care organization (DCO) attachments in their contracts referenced in the Provider Network Council (PNC) meeting minutes, indicating specialized residential services are different from Medicaid funded adult foster care (AFC) residential services. Therefore, it appears this funding was used to support organizations that would help establish a CCBHC by meeting the CCBHC requirements.
CCBHCs have requirements for social inclusion.
The following Social Recreation Programs received $726,665 of mental health millage funding.
Heritage Home Social Rec Program $216,000
IKUS R.E.C. Connect $138,500
Momentum Center $290,800
Pioneer Resources LARC $81,365
CCBHCs have requirements for making services available to all consumers regardless of residency or their ability to pay.
Funding in the amount of $257,117 from the mental health millage was allocated to CMH for the uninsured and underinsured, ensuring this CCBHC requirement would be met.
CCBHCs require agreements establishing care coordination with a variety of community or regional services.
The following organizations received mental health millage funding through the Community Partner Program.
Arbor Circle $125,000
Beacon of Hope $86,500
Bethany Christian Services $103,400
City on a Hill $300,000
Midtown Counseling $98,640
Mosaic Counseling $178,000
Ottawa Community Schools Network $142,000
Holland Drop-In Center $98,950
Ottawa County Jail $21,500
Clubhouse $60,000
Housing Assistance $113,172
Senior Reach $212,266
CCBHCs require public relations awareness and educational programs.
Public relations/awareness was allocated $20,000 of mental health millage funding for activities such as creating social media content and websites to share educational information with consumers and stakeholders.
The Medicaid health care system has traditionally covered people with unique situations, but it appears this system is being transformed into a CCBHC model of care. Rather than providing health care for individuals that are incapable of caring for themselves, CCBHC is socialized health care that ensures coverage for all. It appears Ottawa County is transitioning to a socialized health care system right in front of our eyes, and it is being funded by the Ottawa County taxpayers through the mental health millage.