Meridian Behavioral Health Services Inc., a nonprofit, comprehensive behavioral health services provider organization, received continuation funding to support their patient assistance and integrated care programs. Meridian offers psychiatric evaluations and medication management services to both Medicaid and state-funded individuals in Haywood, Jackson and Macon counties. Many of the individuals served by this program are indigent and therefore rely on the Patient Assistance Program (PAP), which provides free medications donated by the major pharmaceutical companies. For the past two years, the Evergreen Foundation has provided the funding to hire certified medical assistants to administer this program. In late summer, Meridian requested and was awarded partial funding to help defray the costs of hiring a third Certified Medical Assistant, who in addition to her PAP responsibilities also helped to develop a model of integrated care, which enables Meridian to provide primary medical care as well as psychiatric care to individuals with significant behavioral health and substance abuse challenges.

The Evergreen Foundation is a local nonprofit agency that provides infrastructure support, start-up and service provision grants and scholarships that expand and improve the delivery of high quality prevention, treatment and support services to individuals with mental health, substance abuse and developmental disability challenges.