Collaborative Care for Perinatal Mental Health R2

The New York State Office of Mental Health is offering funding through a request for applications to support the expansion of the Collaborative Care Model within obstetrics and gynecology and family medicine practices. This initiative is rooted in a broader effort to integrate behavioral health into primary care settings, particularly for perinatal populations. The Collaborative Care Model is a well-established, evidence-based approach supported by extensive research demonstrating improved clinical outcomes, increased patient satisfaction, and enhanced care coordination. The funding opportunity reflects the state’s ongoing commitment to addressing maternal mental health challenges, including disparities in screening and treatment access. The primary objective of this program is to expand access to behavioral health services for perinatal birthing individuals with mild to moderate mental health needs. By embedding behavioral health care managers and psychiatric consultants into primary care teams, the model enables early detection, continuous monitoring, and effective treatment of mental health conditions during the perinatal period. This is particularly critical given the documented link between mental health conditions and maternal mortality, as well as disparities in care experienced by marginalized populations. The program emphasizes equity, aiming to improve outcomes in underserved and high-risk communities across the state. Funding under this opportunity is designed to support the startup and implementation of the Collaborative Care Model in eligible outpatient settings. Each selected site will receive financial support to establish the necessary infrastructure, including staffing, training, and workflow development. Funds are disbursed in installments over a one-year contract period and are intended to cover initial costs associated with launching the program. However, applicants are expected to develop sustainable billing practices, as the model is reimbursable through Medicaid and other payers once fully implemented. Eligible applicants include obstetrics and gynecology practices and family medicine practices located in New York State that serve perinatal patients. These practices may operate independently or as part of a larger healthcare system, though only one site per system may receive funding in a given year. Applicants must not already be billing Medicaid for the Collaborative Care Model at the proposed site, though organizations with existing programs may apply to establish new locations. Additional eligibility extends to federally qualified health centers, rural health centers, and similar community-based providers. The application process requires submission through the New York Statewide Financial System and includes multiple components such as a letter of interest, documentation of existing services, and a detailed plan for integrating the Collaborative Care Model into current workflows. Applicants must also attest to meeting a comprehensive set of program requirements, including hiring qualified staff, participating in training, implementing data tracking systems, and adhering to model fidelity standards. Failure to meet these requirements results in automatic disqualification. Applications are evaluated based on completeness, eligibility, and alignment with program priorities. Additional scoring criteria include geographic need, such as lack of existing Collaborative Care Model sites in the county, higher-than-average maternal mortality rates, and higher proportions of Medicaid or self-pay births. Awards are distributed based on these priority scores, with tie-breaking determined by local maternal mortality rates and submission timing. The anticipated timeline includes a summer application deadline, fall award notifications, and a contract start date at the beginning of the following year. The program operates on a one-year contract term and requires ongoing reporting, participation in technical assistance activities, and development of a sustainability plan. Awardees must demonstrate progress toward full implementation within one year and maintain compliance with reporting and staffing requirements. Contact for the program is managed through a designated issuing officer, and all inquiries must be submitted via email by specified deadlines. This structured and comprehensive approach ensures that funded programs are positioned for long-term success in improving maternal mental health outcomes across New York State.

Prioritize demonstrating readiness to implement CoCM including staffing and workflow integration; ensure all attestations are complete to avoid disqualification; highlight service to high need populations and counties with limited CoCM presence