Garrett County will soon launch the Assistance in Community Integration Services (ACIS) program, a Medicaid initiative that helps eligible residents experiencing or at risk of homelessness achieve greater housing stability while addressing their health care needs.
Garrett County is one of five counties joining ACIS as part of a statewide expansion announced by the Maryland Department of Health. The expansion adds 1,070 participant spaces across Maryland and brings the program to Garrett County for the first time.
The Garrett County Health Department will serve as the lead local entity for the program, with Maryland Wellness serving as the Housing Case Management Partner Entity. The Health Department has also begun working with Garrett Regional Medical Center and will coordinate with Garrett County Community Action Committee, Inc., as well as other state and local partners, to establish eligibility and referral procedures.
“This program gives us another opportunity to implement a Medicaid program for individuals experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless,” said Fred Polce Jr., Director of the Garrett County Local Behavioral Health Authority and Garrett County Local Behavioral Health Authority. “By bringing health care, housing support, and community partners together, we can help individuals and families have opportunities to improve health outcomes, live safely and independently in their community”.
ACIS connects eligible Medicaid participants with case managers who work with them to develop individualized service plans, identify housing resources, connect with community supports, and coordinate medical and behavioral health care.
The program has demonstrated positive housing outcomes since its launch in Maryland. A review by The Hilltop Institute found that more than 76% of ACIS participants achieved stable housing between 2019 and 2023. Nearly 80% of those participants secured permanent housing.
Who Is Eligible?
Garrett County residents may be eligible for ACIS if they:
- Are enrolled in Maryland Medicaid.
- Meet one or more of these health criteria:
- Have two or more chronic conditions (long-term illnesses).
- Use the emergency room or be in the hospital more than four times a year.
- Meet one of these housing criteria:
- Experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.
- Facing institutional placement.
- Choose to be in the ACIS program after a referral is received to the Garrett County Local Behavioral Health Authority.
For statewide information about ACIS, eligibility requirements, and program resources, visit https://health.maryland.gov/ACIS. Garrett County has been approved to participate in the statewide ACIS expansion. The Maryland Department of Health’s ACIS website may not yet reflect all counties included in the most recent expansion as website updates are completed.
Additional information about ACIS in Garrett County, including local referral procedures and contact information, will be available at https://garretthealth.org/acis/ as local program information is updated.
