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Finger Lakes IPA, Inc. (FLIPA); Coalition for Behavioral Health, Inc.

Merging Health-Focused Organizations to Strengthen Integrated Care Systems

In 2022, NYHealth awarded grants to the Finger Lakes IPA, Inc. (FLIPA); and the Coalition for Behavioral Health, Inc. to support mergers that helped operationalize and improve health services provided to New Yorkers.

Special Projects Fund

Grantee Name

Finger Lakes IPA, Inc. (FLIPA); Coalition for Behavioral Health, Inc.

Funding Area

Special Projects Fund

Publication Date

May 2024

Grant Amount

Finger Lakes IPA: $200,000; Coalition for Behavioral Health: $70,000

Grant Date:

2022

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Merging two mission-aligned organizations can be an effective way to expand health programs and advance a shared mission for community change. It allows organizations to complement each other’s strengths, create organizational efficiencies, promote innovation, and advocate for health services that better meet the needs of local communities.  

In 2022, NYHealth awarded two grants to support mergers that helped operationalize and improve health services provided to New Yorkers. NYHealth funded the merger of two safety-net provider systems, Finger Lakes Independent Practice Association (FLIPA) and Upstate Community Health Collaborative (UCHC) to better serve patients with integrated primary care, behavioral health care, and social services in 27 counties across upstate New York. Additionally, NYHealth funded The Coalition for Behavioral Health to support its merger with the Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Providers of New York State, to expand the two associations’ advocacy for mental health and substance use disorder provider agencies across New York State. The merged organization is called InUnity Alliance. 

Outcomes and Lessons Learned

Outcomes and Lessons Learned: 

Finger Lakes Independent Practice Association (FLIPA) 

Under this grant, FLIPA:  

  • Expanded service delivery, creating opportunities for providers to serve more than 325,000 people in the Finger Lakes, Central New York, North Country, Capital District, and Hudson Valley.  
  • Adopted network-wide social care screening, documentation, and standards of care for members to improve patient outcomes.  
  • Executed new data-sharing agreements to manage and coordinate patient care across all networks collectively. 
  • Educated health care payors and the New York State Department of Health about the challenges and areas of opportunity for value-based payment models. 
  • Developed a resource library for behavioral health and primary care providers to inform the integration of social determinants of health into behavioral health and preventive health provision.  
  • Broadened the scope of its advocacy efforts and worked alongside the New York State Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare and other statewide partners to advocate for increased public investment in integrated mental and substance use disorder services.   
  • Received Building Bridges to Better Health recognition from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for its innovative solution to advance health center performance and improve community health outcomes.  

Coalition for Behavioral Health  

Under this grant, InUnity Alliance: 

  • Created a statewide advocacy association representing more than 250 addiction, mental health, and social service agencies, expanding its reach to serve more than 800,000 New Yorkers. 
  • Published a white paper, “Rescuing New York’s Behavioral Health System to Heal and Help All,” on InUnity Alliance’s initial advocacy agenda.  
  • Expanded capacity to provide greater technical support for member groups and advocate for increased investment in workforce development and integrated care delivery. 
  • Launched a policy training center that trains frontline leaders of color to better advocate for integrated systems of care. 
  • Collaborated with the New York State Council for Community Behavioral Health to offer trainings on program and policy innovations in health care delivery to New York providers. 

 

On March 14, 2024, NYHealth hosted a webinar with representatives of InUnity Alliance to discuss the merger and their efforts to transform mental health and substance use services in New York State. 

Co-Funding and Additional Funds Leveraged: New York Community Trust provided co-funding of $175,000 to support the InUnity Alliance merger. Mother Cabrini Health Foundation provided $500,000 for InUnity Alliance’s New York State Institute to Advance Leadership Equity , which aims to ensure more diversity at the executive levels of mental health and addiction agencies. 

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