Minn. clinics $500k for mental health services

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded $250,000 each to Open Door Health Center of Mankato and Sawtooth Mountain Clinic in Grand Marais. The funding comes from the Affordable Care Act.

Rita Plourde, executive director of the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic, says the family physicians at her clinic are treating a growing number of patients who need mental health services. Plourde says she also hopes to use the new funding to hire in-house behavioral health specialists.

"We're really looking at clinical psychologists and mental health care counselors," she said, "and we're also looking at integrating some strong case management into that mix."

Plourde says she would like to also use the money to expand access to the mental health providers the clinic already works with.

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