Otsego Student Health Center

Providing access to quality health care for medical and mental health needs
at a time that’s convenient for your child and family.

Otsego Public Schools is proud to be the first district in Allegan County to house an on-site Student Health Center. This facility eliminates the barrier of access to essential and quality healthcare for many of our families. Planning for this facility began In February 2023 when Otsego Public Schools received a Child and Adolescent Health Center (CAHC) Program Planning Grant worth $25,000 from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. An additional $500,000 in grant dollars has made this plan become a reality. With the help of our CAHC Community Advisory Council, InterCare Community Health Services, and TMP architects, the OPS team is ready to open this facility for our District!

Opening this fall!

We’re happy to announce that we have a full time School-Based Therapist on staff now! The center will also include a Medical Assistant and Physician for medical health appointments. Medical services will be offered three days a week starting the week of September 8th.

STUDENT CENTER SERVICES:

Mental Health Services

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
8:00am - 4:30pm
Provider: Sarah Maxwell, LMSW, SSW
School-Based Therapist

Medical Health Services

Monday, Thursday
8:00am - 4:30pm
Provider: Katherine Radakovich, FNP
Nurse Practitioner

The Health Center is located on the north side of Washington Street Elementary.
Phone: 269-694-7870

Sliding Fee Program

The amount of the discount depends on the type of service provided and where your income is on the Federal Poverty Level Scale.

Sliding Fee A: If your family size and income are at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level, you will be charged only a small fee.

Sliding Fee B, C & D: If you are above the Federal Poverty Level but less than double it, your discounts will be based on income and family size.

Service	Sliding Fee A	Sliding Fee B	Sliding Fee C	Sliding Fee D
Medical, Laboratory, Psychiatry & Mental Health Services	$20 nominal fee plus supply cost	$65 flat fee per encounter plus supply cost or total charges if less	$75 flat fee per encounter plus supply cost or total charges if less	$85 flat fee per encounter or total charges if less
Mental Health Group Visit Services	$12 nominal fee	$15 flat fee per encounter	$20 flat fee per encounter	$25 flat fee per encounter

Service

Sliding Fee A

Sliding Fee B

Sliding Fee C

Sliding Fee D

Medical, Laboratory, Psychiatry & Mental Health Services

$20 nominal fee plus supply cost

$65 flat fee per encounter plus supply cost or total charges if less

$75 flat fee per encounter plus supply cost or total charges if less

$85 flat fee per encounter or total charges if less

Mental Health Group Visit Services

$12 nominal fee

$15 flat fee per encounter

$20 flat fee per encounter

$25 flat fee per encounter

Parent/Guardian Consent Form

A student must have a signed consent form on file in order to be seen as well as completed registration paperwork.

You only need to fill out the consent form once in order for your child to be seen at the Otsego Student Health Center. Registration paperwork can be completed online once an appointment is made and the patient established in our system.

Print this out and return it to the health center.

PARENT/GUARDIAN CONSENT FORM

About the Otsego Student Health Center

Otsego’s Student Health Center is a partnership with InterCare promoting the health of children, adolescents, and their families by providing important primary, preventative, and early intervention healthcare services, including:

primary care
preventative care
comprehensive health assessment
vision and hearing screening
immunization
treatment of acute illness
co-management of chronic illness
health education
mental health care

These integrated primary care and mental health centers serve youth and adolescents ages 3-21 in schools. The Otsego Student Health Care is staffed by InterCare healthcare professionals and include a medical provider, therapist and support staff.

About Our Provider

Otsego Public Schools is proud to have InterCare Community Health Network as a partner in providing both medical and mental health services for a student health center.

From InterCare:
It is InterCare’s mission to improve the overall health of the communities we serve by providing comprehensive, patient-centered primary health care to individuals and groups who otherwise would lack adequate access because of financial, geographic, language, or other potential barriers to care.

InterCare is officially designated as a “federally qualified health center” by the federal Health Resources and Services Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services. As such, we are awarded a grant every year that helps us charge for our services using a sliding fee scale for eligible low income individuals and families. We also accept all insurance types, especially Medicaid and other public and private health insurance programs.

MICHIGAN CONFIDENTIALITY / CONSENT LAWS

Why a Student Health Center?
A needs assessment uncovered key data that could be addressed with an on-site student health center. Through research and feedback sessions with our Community Advisory Council and Student Advisory Councils (6th-12th grade) priorities were identified where current health and behavioral healthcare for school-aged children could be improved. They selected the top three: well-child/preventive & primary care, mental health, and health literacy for caregivers and students. Students voiced that they would be thrilled not to have to travel outside the community for medical appointments or sports physicals.

Access was the main area of need identified; limited access to healthcare in our community was the greatest challenge for our target population. A Child and Adolescent Health Center at OPS would be the only health center of its kind in Allegan County. The nearest such facility is Battle Creek to the southeast, Grand Rapids to the north and Bangor to the southwest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can any student at Otsego Public Schools be seen at this health center?

Yes. All students ages 3-21 are eligible to be seen at the healthcare facility. However, InterCare must have a signed parent consent form on file prior to any examination or treatment except for confidential services to mature minors in line with Michigan and Federal law. (See consent form and Michigan Consent Laws documents for additional details.) Note that this consent form is good for one year.

What is the process for my child to be seen at the Otsego Student Health Center?

For well-child appointments, immunizations, consultations, etc., parents can contact the center and make an appointment for their child. For sudden illnesses such as a sore throat, stomach aches, fevers, etc., a staff member will contact the parent/guardian and assist in making an appointment. Parents will be notified before any appointment is confirmed except for confidential services to mature minors in line with Michigan and Federal law. (See consent form and Michigan Consent Laws documents for additional details.)

Does a parent need to be present for their child’s appointment?

We encourage parents to attend appointments whenever possible; however, parents are not required to be present. If a parent or guardian is not present, the attending medical provider would contact the parents if needed, should questions arise. A detailed summary of the appointment will be provided for the parent/guardian. We would also adhere to the Michigan Confidentiality / Consent Laws.

What services are available?

Is the Health Center free?

Can students outside the district use this health center?

If students have a primary care provider elsewhere, can they still use the Health Center?

Will there be a long wait time to be seen at the center?

Can the general public use this health center?

This health center is specifically for students. This is not a walk-in clinic and those from the public cannot make appointments or walk in for care. The Otsego Student Health Center is specifically for students, ages 3-21. Parents can call to make an appointment at the clinic during the appropriate hours, or staff members might refer ill students to the office to contact parents and/or the health center for an appointment. Any non OPS student who wishes to be seen would have to schedule an appointment for those approved hours which will be outside of the school day. Call the health center for details.

How is this health center funded?

The student health center is part of an initiative through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. MDHHS awards grants to schools who apply for a school-based health center to better serve their students and families.

The health center is funded through MDHHS grants, however, Otsego Public Schools will need to help fund construction costs and will do this through funding sources other than the general fund.

MDHHS Infrastructure Grant: $329,500
MDHHS Operating Grant: $144,498 (breakdown below)
- Computers: $1500
- Lab Equipment: $15,000
- Capital Expenditures: $79,598
TMP Architecture/Design: $48,400
MDHHS Construction Grant: $250,000
Security Grant (from 31aa funds): $15,000
Total in grants: $738,998

Construction costs total $1,113,400, leaving $374,402 unfunded. Otsego Public Schools is able to cover this additional cost through Bond investments.

Continuous funding: MDHHS will provide $180,000 annually for operating expenses. Otsego has a 30% match requirement with this funding. (This would include utilities, custodial, technology, etc.)