Aetna provides $9.3 million to fund behavioral health and social care needs of youth

Funding will support community-based organizations providing CSED waiver services

CHARLESTON, W.V., Dec. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Aetna Better Health^® of West Virginia, a CVS Health^® company (NYSE: CVS), has provided $9.3 million to 10 residential and community-based service providers across the state that deliver behavioral health services and support social care needs of West Virginians, particularly for Children with a Serious Emotional Disorders (CSED) in foster care and their biological or foster families.

Today's announcement complements Aetna's separately announced commitment to help residential facilities prepare children and their families to transition to home- and/or community-based settings. The commitment announced today will support local community-based organizations that serve members after they have transitioned.

West Virginia's CSED waiver program provides eligible children and teens with serious behavioral or mental health needs with a range of intensive behavioral health services and supports. The goal of the program is to assist children with severe emotional disorders by helping them remain with their families, in their homes and communities, with a support network, while receiving the services they need to improve outcomes.

"Aetna's latest funding will primarily support local behavioral health services, such as in-home therapy and crisis intervention for children and families, with the goal of keeping kids at home and in their community," said Todd White, CEO Aetna Better Health of West Virginia.

"West Virginia is enabling more children with a CSED waiver to live in a caring family environment with the opportunity to build loving relationships while receiving needed behavioral health treatment locally," said Kathy Szafran, Executive Director, Mountain Health Promise, Aetna Better Health of West Virginia. "Building community capacity and educating biological and foster families to support these kids at home, especially in the rural areas that make up most of the state, helps to keep kids and their families together, allowing them the time to heal and grow." 

In addition to funding behavioral health organizations, Aetna is funding organizations that tackle social determinants of health, such as access to holistic care, service capacity and workforce development, that children and their families face. Many of these organizations plan to:

• Expand prenatal education programs
• Develop community care clinics on school campuses
• Establish scholarships for nursing students
• Launch learning facilities that offer virtual and in-person trainings for a variety of health professions
• Cultivate programs that address food insecurity, management of chronic health conditions, workforce shortage issues, access to care and more

West Virginia organizations receiving Aetna community investments include:

"There is a vast need for nurses and other clinical positions across the U.S. and throughout West Virginia," said Kristi K. Arrowood, Executive Director, St. Mary's Medical Center Foundation. "Aetna's investment in our nursing school will allow us to expand and renovate our learning center, upgrade equipment, and provide nursing scholarships that will increase class sizes and expedite more clinical specialists into local communities."

Aetna Better Health of West Virginia is the sole managed care organization for the state's Specialized Managed Care for Children and Youth contract. The statewide contract covers the physical and behavioral health care services for children and youth in the foster care system and individuals receiving adoption assistance, as well as children in the CSED waiver program. The health plan has administered CSED waiver programs for members in West Virginia since March 1, 2020.

About Aetna Medicaid
Aetna Medicaid Administrators LLC (Aetna Medicaid), a CVS Health company, has over 30 years of experience managing the care of the most medically vulnerable, using innovative approaches and a local presence in each market to achieve both successful health care results and effective cost outcomes. Aetna Medicaid has particular expertise serving high-need Medicaid members, including those who are dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare. Currently, Aetna Medicaid owns and/or administers Medicaid managed health care plans under the names of Aetna Better Health and other affiliate names. Together, these plans serve approximately 2.8 million people in 16 states, including Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. For more information, see www.aetnabetterhealth.com.

About CVS Health
CVS Health^® is the leading health solutions company, delivering care like no one else can. We reach more people and improve the health of communities across America through our local presence, digital channels and over 300,000 dedicated colleagues – including more than 40,000 physicians, pharmacists, nurses and nurse practitioners. Wherever and whenever people need us, we help them with their health – whether that's managing chronic diseases, staying compliant with their medications or accessing affordable health and wellness services in the most convenient ways. We help people navigate the health care system – and their personal health care – by improving access, lowering costs and being a trusted partner for every meaningful moment of health. And we do it all with heart, each and every day. Follow @CVSHealth on social media.

Media contact
Robert Joyce
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SOURCE Aetna