During a blessing ceremony Jan. 13 marking the opening of a new residential program in Hilo, Scott Sivik said he noticed an incremental change in the residents, who were formerly homeless and sought care for their mental illness. At first, they kept to themselves in their rooms, he described, but as the event went on, some of them came out to eat lunch and interact with the group.
“It was an extremely rewarding experience to know we had created a welcoming environment and were already making a difference,” Sivik, plan president and CEO of Ohana Health Plan, told Aloha State Daily. “That's why I got into health care 35 years ago – it’s to try to make a difference.”
As one of the five Medicaid programs in the state, Ohana Health Plan has a total of 1,192 Community Care Services (CCS), a managed behavioral health care plan, on Hawaii Island, of which 858 are in Hilo.
In 2021, the health plan began to partner on this initiative with Hilo-based nonprofit Hope Services Hawaii, led by CEO Brandee Menino. The property is owned by Hawaii County, which is leasing to the nonprofit to address homelessness. It now exclusively serves Ohana Health’s CCS members.
Sivik said bringing it to life stemmed from “long-term relationship and trust.” He dubbed the approach “disruptive innovation.”
He added, the transitional housing model is intended to serve “the most vulnerable in our community, those with mental illness and who are houseless. … We want to keep them off the streets and out of emergency rooms.”
“So, what we’re trying to create is a hub of healing for those individuals.”
He noted that it’s not uncommon for folks with behavioral health issues to visit the ER between 30 to 300 times a year. Currently, five of six beds are filled, and the goal over the next year, he said, is to have all of the beds filled nonstop.
A key part of this program’s success will be staffing amid the nationwide health workforce crisis. Such roles will include licensed behavioral health clinicians and an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, who will help dispense medication. Ohana Health Plan and Hope Services Hawaii are sharing the workload and operating costs, though Sivik said the nonprofit is physically there on site, while the health plan handles it case management services.
Sivik said that the company invested money, time, resources and equity into this project.
“We’re very fortunate that the county provided the house and we put funds up ahead of time to help get things started," he said. “My ultimate goal is the impetus for multiple partnerships with other entities in a similar way – to eventually make it available to more than just our Ohana members.”
But starting small was also part of the plan. “We were cautious. We didn’t go out and do 20 houses for 50 people, but we were working slow and together.
“I’m hopeful, particularly at the start of the year, we believe that this is going to be great,” Sivik said. “Our mission is really transforming the health of our communities who serve one person at a time.”
Since 2008, Ohana Health Plan, has provided Medicare and Medicaid health services to families in Hawaii. The Centene Corp. company serves nearly 50,000 local members. For more information, go to: https://www.ohanahealthplan.com/.
Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.
