Salt Lake City, Utah – A new audit reveals that the change of management in Salt Lake County’s behavioral health services has produced both benefits and challenges.
Health Services Providers
A huge number of health service providers have been made available for more than 16,500 Medicaid enrollees. These provider networks have also been made available for uninsured individuals who are eligible for mental health treatment as well as substance abuse treatment. Such services are paid for by the county and the federal government. Further expansion of urgent care clinics and behavioral health resources were also made accessible through the collaboration of various institutions. The Univerity Neuropsychiatric Institute provides new programs and urgent care clinic like the countywide crisis services. Moreover, school-based programs plus intervention programs for families are provided by the Valley Behavioral Health (VBH), the audit department added.
Positive Transition
Denise Callahan, who was hired by the SL county to conduct an independent audit said that the overall audit indicates that the SL county is heading towards the right direction with the changes. The entire behavioral health system audit spent $48,500 including the county’s behavioral health services division. Callahan gives compliment to the cooperation of different parties during the audit, showing professionalism during regular interactions. The SL Mayor Ben McAdams said that providers are adapting to the new reality, and that the audit is a confirmation that “the managing care model is working out.”
SL Behavioral Health Services
The audit was ordered by McAdams last summer, following the initial announcement of the VBH that they will no longer provide health care to hundreds of consumers. Valley’s officials announced that operating revenues were lost when the contract was awarded to OptumHealth in managing the county’s substance abuse resources and mental health resources. The VBH is a non-profit organization and has been the sole behavioral health services provider and manager for over 24 years before the transition. However, auditors emphasized that although the transition was awkward, fingers did point on a single entity for the issues.
Safeguarding Health Care
The audit was called by the mayor roughly a year ago, emphasizing that health care needs safeguarding. An urgent care towards the issue was necessary since VBH was uncertain to provide health care and opts to cut clients because of financial constraints. McAdams added that the contract with OptumHealth was to ensure the clients’ care, seeking an independent audit at the same time. Individuals with behavioral and mental health issues need to seek an urgent care near me resource for immediate care. In the end, McAdams said that the audit and transition led to greater choices of providers for consumers, instead of relying on one primary provider of behavioral health services.
