MANKATO, Minn., Sept. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Minnesota State University, Mankato has announced a five-year agreement with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (Blue Cross) to support the opening of a unique Rural Behavioral Health Clinic later this year in a location adjacent to campus.
The clinic's full name will be the Rural Behavioral Health Clinic, located at Minnesota State University, Mankato, made possible by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. The health insurer has pledged $5 million in support of the facility, which will be located at 1600 Warren St. (Suite 6) in Mankato. The Blue Cross pledge follows a Minnesota Legislature allocation in spring 2023 of $1.5 million to establish the clinic, as well as $1 million in recently approved federal funding.
The Rural Behavioral Health Clinic will initially provide in-person mental health counseling, case management and medication management to clients of all ages who are either enrolled in public programs, have commercial health insurance or are uninsured. The service area for the clinic encompasses Minnesota's southern central region, including Blue Earth, Brown, Faribault, Le Sueur, Martin, Nicollet, Watonwan and Waseca counties.
In addition to serving as a community-based outpatient mental health center, the clinic will act as an academic training center for students enrolled in the University's training programs in the fields of social work, counseling and student personnel, alcohol and drug studies, psychology and nursing.
The Rural Behavioral Health Clinic's dual role makes it unique in Minnesota, said Minnesota State University, Mankato President Edward Inch.
"There are no other academic training clinics in the state that are also specifically focused on providing integrated outpatient mental health services to rural Minnesotans," said Inch. "We thank Blue Cross and Blue Shield of ...
