Friday, April 25, 2025
4/25/2025
Establishing Valley Behavioral Health as a CCBHC - Establishing Valley Behavioral Health as a CCBHC will help address the severe shortage of health care for low-income Medicaid-eligible adults, youth, and children with mental health, substance use, and co-occurring disorders in Salt Lake County and Tooele County, Utah. The region is home to more than 1.2 million people with one of the highest rates of mental health disorders in the country. Utah is ranked last in access to mental health care for adults and 32nd in access for youth. The project has a targeted focus on: a) children and adults from racial/ethnic minorities who have been unable to access care due to cost or other barriers; b) youth and adults at risk of suicide including those who identify as LGBTQ+; c) homeless youth and adults; and d) veterans needing care outside of the local VA facility. Goals of the project are to: 1) Establish Valley as a CCBHC; 2) Increase access to behavioral health care for children and youth; 2) Increase access to integrated care services; 3) Increase access to behavioral health care for marginalized communities including members of racial and ethnic minorities, members of LGTBQ+ community, and homeless individuals; 4) Increase access to behavioral health care services for veterans; and 5) Strength the agency’s ability to track and monitor outcomes and evaluate impact on health disparities. We expect to achieve the following outcomes: 1) full compliance with CCBHC Criteria by 9/30/2023; 2) increase by 5% each project year the number of children/youth receiving behavioral health services; 3) increase by 10% each project year the number of patients receiving primary care and behavioral health services (integrated care); 4) increase by 10% each project year the number of patients who identify as members of a racial or ethnic minority who are receiving behavioral health services, (5) increase by 10% each project year the number of patients who identify as LGBTQ+ who are receiving behavioral health services; 6) increase by 10% each project year the number of homeless individuals who are receiving behavioral health and/or supportive housing services; 7) increase by 10% each project year the number of veterans receiving behavioral health services or referred to the local VA; and 8) by the end of the third project year, implement new software with enhanced data tracking, analysis, and reporting related to health disparities. Valley is well positioned to become a CCBHC with most services and partnerships in place and a plan to meet all CCBHC certification criteria within one year of award. The agency has relationships with state Medicaid Authority and will advocate for the amendment of the state Medicaid plan to include PPS billing for CCBHCs. The agency served 13,956 unduplicated clients in Salt Lake and Tooele Counties last year (12,285 in Salt Lake County and 1,671 in Tooele). The CCBHC project will serve an additional 350 unduplicated clients each year for a total of 1400 additional unduplicated children, youth and adults over the four-year grant period. Estimated total number of people to be served over four years as a result of this grant: 59,324
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).