Fresh Funding Is Emerging for MIH and Crisis Response Teams

Table of Contents:

• Oklahoma City to Bolster Mental Health Crisis Teams with Opioid Settlement Funds

• Barriere Paramedic Equips Local Curling Club with Lifesaving AED Skills

• Health Systems Urge Extension of Hospital-at-Home Waiver as Expiration Date Looms

Read time: 4 minutes

Funding

Oklahoma City is expanding its Mobile Integrated Healthcare program, which dispatches social workers and paramedics to mental health calls instead of relying solely on law enforcement. The expansion is funded by a $572,697 grant from the state’s Opioid Abatement Board, sourced from legal settlements with opioid manufacturers.

These funds will be used to purchase life-saving supplies like naloxone and Suboxone, as well as to hire two new staff members dedicated to community outreach and education. Since its launch last year, the program has already responded to over 4,000 calls, providing residents with direct access to recovery resources rather than just hospital transport. By increasing access to medication-assisted treatment, city officials aim to reduce overdose rates and improve the overall quality of life for those struggling with substance use disorders.

Training

Members of the Barriere Curling Club recently received essential emergency training on how to operate an automated external defibrillator (AED). The session was led by Mikael Kjellstrom, a community paramedic with BC Emergency Health Services, who provided hands-on instruction and a refresher on CPR. The club acquired the lifesaving device through a grant from the North Thompson Community Foundation to enhance safety during sporting events. During the demonstration, Kjellstrom taught members how to identify a cardiac emergency and properly deploy the equipment when every second counts. This community initiative ensures that club members are prepared to provide immediate medical assistance before professional emergency responders arrive on the scene.

Extension

Health Systems Urge Extension of Hospital-at-Home Waiver as Expiration Date Looms

Health systems including NYU Langone and Virtua Health are navigating a critical turning point for the federal "Acute Hospital Care at Home" waiver, which allows hospitals to provide inpatient-level care in patients' residences. Originally launched during the COVID-19 pandemic to manage capacity, the program enables providers to monitor patients 24/7 using wearable technology and conduct daily in-person or virtual clinical visits.

While the initiative has demonstrated success—including lower mortality rates, reduced hospital-acquired infections, and 100% patient satisfaction at some sites—it faces an uncertain future with current federal authorization set to expire. Organizations like Virtua Health, which recently resumed its program after a brief government shutdown suspension, are now joining industry advocates to push Congress for a permanent solution or a multi-year extension to maintain this "hospital without walls" model.