LifeSpring Health Systems - Austin Medical Center

LifeSpring Health Systems is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit Community Mental Health Center and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that has been the premier provider of comprehensive behavioral health, substance use disorder treatment, primary care, and related services in southern Indiana since 1964.

Beginning as a small outpatient clinic for children in Jeffersonville, Indiana, LifeSpring has grown to serve 11 counties—Clark, Crawford, Dubois, Floyd, Harrison, Jefferson, Orange, Perry, Scott, Spencer, and Washington—with over 25 facilities and annually supporting more than 14,000 individuals.

In 2018, it merged with Southern Hills Counseling Center, expanding its reach, and in 2015, it achieved FQHC status to deliver patient-centered medical homes in medically underserved areas, including school-based clinics.

Guided by its mission 'to improve and sustain the quality of life in our communities by providing comprehensive behavioral health, substance use disorder treatment, primary care and related services,' and values of serving 'with the highest quality of care, in a professional and fiscally responsible manner,' LifeSpring employs a multidisciplinary team of physicians, nurse practitioners, psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, counselors, and support staff to tailor evidence-based, holistic programs using a team approach.

Services encompass education, prevention, assessment, intervention, and treatment for mental health issues, addiction recovery (including the Recovery Campus with residential facilities like Turning Point Center and Hope Center offering 24/7 crisis stabilization), primary care regardless of ability to pay, crisis response via a 24/7 call center and mobile teams, Employee Assistance Programs, problem gambling treatment, veterans support, homelessness initiatives like Healthcare for the Homeless and PATH, children and family services, residential programs, and open access walk-ins.

Committed to accessibility, LifeSpring operates on a sliding fee scale based on family size and income, ensures no one is turned away due to inability to pay, race, color, sex, national origin, disability, religion, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity, and fosters strong partnerships with medical, social service, educational, justice, faith, and community organizations to provide the least restrictive, most supportive care for all ages, from newborns to seniors, including the underserved, families, offenders, and those in crisis.

What we treat

Treatment & Programs

Levels of Care

Outpatient treatment forms the foundation of care for the southern Indiana community at this clinic, focusing heavily on integrated behavioral and physical wellness. When clients temporarily require much higher intensity support, they can easily access the network's residential options or utilize 24/7 crisis stabilization units.

Outpatient

Therapies

Therapists and care managers utilize a strategic mix of individual and group therapy to help clients build new emotional skills. If deemed appropriate during early assessments, clients are directly referred to staff psychiatrists for medication management to further aid their recovery. Licensed nurses also consult with individuals to address overlapping concerns about medication efficacy and overall physical health.

Individual Therapy Group Therapy

Addictions

Providers here treat a broad spectrum of substance use challenges, including widespread alcohol and drug dependencies. The clinic also holds specialized certification from the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addictions to explicitly treat problem gambling. Through proactive initiatives, they even deploy rapid response teams to engage community members immediately following severe overdose events.

Conditions

LifeSpring Health Systems provides comprehensive psychiatric support for severe and persistent mental illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, and depression. The clinical team maintains a strong focus on dual diagnosis challenges, efficiently addressing co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders at the same time. Specialized therapeutic tracks are also available to support individuals navigating heavy trauma or post-traumatic stress.

Issues

Staff deliberately tackle broader life stressors that greatly complicate recovery, ranging from chronic homelessness to deep-seated family conflict. Specialized clinicians routinely guide parents dealing with child behavioral challenges or navigating complexities with the Department of Children Services. The organization also leans heavily into harm-reduction frameworks to catch and stabilize individuals experiencing acute, systemic crises.

Programs

A defining feature of the agency is its specialized PATH program, which actively seeks out and transitions individuals facing severe mental illness and housing loss. They also run a dedicated Veterans Program where clinical staff trained in military culture help former service members reintegrate successfully. For immediate community intervention, the celebrated Project CARE initiative acts as a multi-agency overdose response team.

Dual Diagnosis Employee Assistance Program Harm Reduction Oriented Veterans Program

On-site

Amenities

Across their residential hubs, clients stay in practical shared rooms designed to foster community and mutual peer support. These fully staffed facilities maintain 24-hour security and continuous medical supervision to ensure a safe healing environment.

Shared Rooms 24/7 Security

Coverage

Payment

Financial accessibility is a foundational pillar of LifeSpring Health Systems, ensuring no patient is ever turned away due to an inability to pay. They accept major government plans like Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP alongside traditional commercial insurance coverage. For uninsured or underinsured community members, a sliding fee schedule strategically scales service costs based on family size and verifiable household income.

Medicare Medicaid

Eligibility

Who We Serve

The inclusive doors here are intentionally open to everyone from newborns to seniors, ensuring marginalized groups receive essential care. Targeted support reaches veterans, pregnant women, growing families, and unhoused individuals who might otherwise fall entirely through the cracks. Because of its specialized organizational status, the agency guarantees access to care for diverse populations throughout Austin, Indiana, and eleven surrounding counties.

Populations Served

VeteransMilitary & Families

Additional Services

Wrapping around behavioral health, this center operates as a patient-centered medical home providing comprehensive primary care services. The holistic approach integrates diagnostic laboratory work, preventative immunizations, and routine medical screenings directly alongside clinical therapy. Additional supportive infrastructure includes accessible transportation services for clients and specialized nutrition education classes.

Primary Care / Physical Health ServicesSliding Scale Fees

About

Facility Info

Operating as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit Community Mental Health Center, LifeSpring Health Systems serves as a critical safety net for southern Indiana. Physical settings range from accessible school-based clinics to modern, multi-county medical hubs built to remove traditional barriers to care. As a recognized Federally Qualified Health Center, the organization designs its entire infrastructure around ensuring community-wide accessibility.

Credentials

Accreditations

The organization proudly holds Community Health Quality Recognition badges from HRSA, reflecting a proven commitment to expanding access and advancing health information technology. They also maintain Federal Public Health Service (PHS) deemed status, cementing their standing as a highly regulated and compliant community care network.