LifeSpring seeks Jeff homeless health center
LifeSpring Health Systems hopes to provide free mental-health and other health care to homeless people next year as part of a plan to expand its community reach beyond behavioral health.
Beth Keeney, LifeSpring's vice president of development and grants, said the company began growing its focus last year with a rebranding campaign that included a new company name to better reflect the integrated "spectrum of services" it plans to offer.
"We really see this as the next step for us," Keeney said.
The company is currently working with a consultant to be designated as a federally qualified health center with a special emphasis on helping the homeless. Anyone else would pay based on a sliding scale as they do at Family Health Centers in Jeffersonville, New Albany, Charlestown and Corydon.
Southern Indiana homeless are usually sent to Family Health Center-Phoenix in Louisville, the closest federally qualified health center designated for the homeless.
Keeney cited a June article in The Courier-Journal that stated many area emergency rooms like the one at Louisville's Norton Hospital have been seeing a recent surge in patients despite the Affordable Care Act's intent to insure more people and have more seek primary care in non-emergencies instead of showing up in ERs.
Many in the community still aren't having their basic medical needs met, which Keeney and some others believe could be due to a shortage of physicians, many doctors not accepting Medicaid and significant wait times to get appointments at some health clinics.
LifeSpring, which has been in business for half a century, believes it can help break down barriers for the homeless by having various medical providers work together to provide primary care, pain management and other health services.
"We know a lot of psychiatric medications can have an impact on physical health," Keeney said.
It also will accept Medicaid and other insurance.
And even if it doesn't receive a federal designation and grant to help homeless people next spring, LifeSpring still plans to provide psychiatric and general health care at an expanded Integrated Treatment Center, 1036 Sharon Drive, off 10th Street in Jeffersonville.
It has already received city approval to retrofit some of the existing space for medical offices, Keeney said, noting the expansion is estimated to cost about $150,000.
Later this month, two prominent federal health officials are expected to be be part of the Rally to Recovery, an event that includes a public gathering at Louisville's Waterfront Park before crossing the Big Four Bridge for an event in Jeffersonville.
Michael Botticelli, acting director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, and Tom Coderre, senior adviser at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, will be among the guests on Sept. 20.
Keeney said anyone with questions about the rally or the company's plan to become a federally qualified health center can call (812) 206-1362.
Reporter Charlie White can be reached at (812) 949-4026 or on Twitter @c_write.