Relationship between CAPS and Cayuga Health at IC
Cayuga Health at Ithaca College is a contracted entity and all healthcare staff are employees of Cayuga Health System. As a third-party entity, all medical and mental health support provided by Cayuga Health-IC will be billed to the student directly or to the student's health insurance.
CAPS is an Ithaca College office and all mental health professionals are employees of the College. As a college counseling center, CAPS offers a no-cost, insurance-free, and confidential variety of consultation and therapeutic treatments to students for their mental health needs. Call us at 607-274-3136 to schedule an appointment!
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Cayuga Health-IC: Medication consultations and Brief Behavioral Health Intervention
Cayuga Health at Ithaca College provides healthcare treatment to maintain and restore student wellbeing. While attending Ithaca College, students may seek out medical treatment with a student health Primary Care Provider (PCP) for a wide variety of physical, emotional, and/or mental conditions affecting their overall health. For example, psychiatric consultations and medication management are only available at Cayuga Health-IC. You can make an appointment with Cayuga Health-IC by calling 607-274-3177.
As part of the Cayuga Health-IC integrated medical team that supports a wide range of emotional and mental health needs, students will be encouraged to initiate an appointment with the Behavioral Health team to explore personalized treatment options, including medication management. Behavioral Health Consultation can be initiated by completing the Mental Health Intake (MHI) questionnaire, available in-office (paper format) or on the Student Health Services website.
Cayuga Health at Ithaca College will offer common prescription medication treatments for students which will include mental health medication care.
Most students will no longer need to establish with an off-campus psychiatric prescriber for common mental health medication treatments while attending Ithaca College. However, for students with complex mental health treatment needs, or who may desire treatment with a mental health or other behavioral health specialist, Cayuga Health-Ithaca College can help direct students towards community resources that may best meet their needs.
Behavioral healthcare supports available through Cayuga Health at Ithaca College will include:
- Expanded screening for depression, anxiety, and substance use to help identify problems early and improve tracking of mental health symptoms over time
- Behavioral Health Interventionists (BHI) available in office and virtually as a part of the general medical team to address a variety of physical, emotional, and mental health needs when recommended by a primary care provider (PCP). Students should schedule an appointment with their Student Health PCP to discuss specific treatment options
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****ALL MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AT CAYUGA HEALTH WILL BE BILLED TO THE STUDENT DIRECTLY OR TO THE STUDENT-HELD MEDICAL INSURANCE PLAN****
Q: Does this impact mental health resources received from CAPS?
A: No, this does not impact any resources received through CAPS. CAPS is a separate entity from Cayuga Health-IC and will continue to offer its resources to students free of charge. This change only impacts you if you seek mental health treatment with a medical provider, psychiatrist, or Behavioral Health Consultant.
Q: Are there concerns about confidentiality associated with services being billed to insurance by Cayuga Health-IC?
A: Some services related to sensitive health visits for both sexual and mental health were already being billed through insurance, including for prescription medications and lab test processing, so this change is not anticipated to have a significant impact. It is important to note that while students will have their insurance billed for clinical visits or sexual health and mental health care, no confidential personal health information is shared with the insurance subscriber. Students always have the option to self pay for the cost of services if they do not wish to have the services billed through insurance.
Q: Are there alternative options available for students who do not wish to be billed through their insurance?
A: There are some alternative resources available in the greater Ithaca area that students can explore if they are concerned about the cost of coverage. Some local options include the Ithaca affiliate of Planned Parenthood and the Ithaca Free Clinic.
Cayuga Health System offers a Financial Assistance Program for qualifying students and families.
For more information, please contact Cayuga Health at Ithaca College at 607-274-3177.