WellCare donates $100,000 for addiction treatment for new and expectant mothers
By Morgan Henry
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WTVQ)- WellCare of Kentucky has donated $100,000 to Volunteers of America Mid-States, Inc.to open a new residential addiction treatment program in Manchester, Kentucky for new and expectant mothers.
VOA, which operates several treatment facilities across the commonwealth, identified a need for residential treatment for women in eastern Kentucky as there were no options for new and expectant mothers within an hour’s drive of Clay County.
In 2016, Kentucky’s Department of Public Health recorded 1,257 cases of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), representing more than 100 cases per month. More than half of those babies required pharmacological treatment.
The group says most mothers of NAS infants report their pregnancies were unintentional, while 80 percent of these mothers already have other children. Given the high rates of NAS – particularly in the eastern part of the state – the need for addiction treatment options for new and expectant mothers is particularly acute.
VOA plans to purchase, renovate and expand an existing facility in Manchester to house up to 16 women and their children. VOA will also offer a transitional intensive outpatient program with subsidized housing and case management supports. The new facility is expected to open in 2019.
New and expectant moms will be treated using evidence-based clinical care guidelines, including assessment and treatment planning; individual, group, and family therapy; case management services; peer support; and aftercare for graduates of the program.
As of Dec. 31, 2018, WellCare serves approximately 444,000 Medicaid members, 14,000 Medicare Advantage plan members and 22,000 Medicare Prescription Drug Plan members in Kentucky. To learn more about how we care for Kentuckians, watch Brandi’s story at http://youtu.be/YwOw5EgeSYo.
