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Cayuga County plans third school-based satellite clinic in Moravia to expand mental-health access
Summary
The county's mental-health services staff said they are applying for an operating certificate to open a satellite clinic at Moravia schools, their third school-based site, which would allow enhanced billing rates and sustain DBT and other services in local districts.
Cayuga County mental-health staff told the Health & Human Services Committee they are moving forward with an application to establish a satellite clinic at Moravia Central School District. If approved, the Moravia satellite would be the county's third school-based clinic, joining established sites in Union Springs and Weedsport.
Staff said the satellite is an extension of the county clinic and would bill for services at the same rates, with an enhanced reimbursement rate of 125% for services provided at an approved school-based satellite in a designated high-need district. County presenters said Moravia qualifies for startup support from the state Office of Mental Health and that the satellite would help sustain school-based dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) efforts and reduce barriers for families who otherwise must travel to Auburn for care.
The county already operates a long-standing satellite in Union Springs and a second-year site in Weedsport. Staff said Cato and Port Byron have expressed interest but must resolve local leadership or vendor arrangements before moving forward. Presenters said school-based satellites reduce travel barriers, preserve continuity with school staff and enable ongoing reimbursement once grant funding ends.
The committee heard that therapists funded by a SAMHSA grant are providing DBT skills programming in the summer recreation program as part of continuity of services, and that the county is coordinating billing and referral pathways with the school districts prior to certificate submission.
County staff said they will continue to work with additional school districts that have expressed interest and will bring implementation details back to the committee as applications and contracts progress.
