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SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake County Council has endorsed new authority plans for its mental health and substance abuse responsibilities.
The plans spell out the governance of the systems and identify service providers and expectations, one of which is whole body wellness for people who participate in mental health and/or substance abuse programs funded with government dollars.
County Councilman Richard Snelgrove questioned whether this mandate would drive up costs and "cannibalize" resources from the county's core responsibilities.
Pat Fleming, director of Substance Abuse in the county, said mental illness has traditionally been under-diagnosed and treated poorly in primary care settings. People with serious mental illnesses treated in public mental health settings die, on average, 25 years younger than the general population. In Utah, their expected life spans are even shorter. Most die of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or respiratory disease.
People with serious mental illnesses treated in public mental health settings die, on average, 25 years younger than the general population. In Utah, their expected life spans are even shorter.
"There has been an emphasis in whole health, medical health homes," Fleming said while addressing the County Council Tuesday. "The only way to get costs under control is to treat that whole individual."
The new plans represent a "huge paradigm shift," said Council Chairman Max Burdick. "I think it's opened a lot of eyes and probably opened a lot of doors to new ways of doing things."
Providers vie for county contract
In the mental health arena, Valley Mental Health has been the sole provider and manager of Salt Lake County's mental health services for nearly 25 years.
Last year, through a competitive bidding process, Salt Lake County selected OptumHealth to act as an administrative services organization for county mental health services. Valley Mental Health will be a contract provider to OptumHealth, the health and wellness business arm of United Health Group.
Valley Mental Health lodged a protest with the county over the move. After a review, county administrators stuck with plans to change management of mental health services.
Beginning July 1, OptumHealth will procure and manage mental health services for clients of Salt Lake County Mental Health. The three-year contract is worth approximately $52 million a year. Valley Mental Health is expected to remain a primary provider of client services, although OptumHealth can contract with other mental health providers.
Fleming acknowledged that the changes have been stressful for all involved. Recently, Valley Mental Health laid off 100 employees due to changes in its contract structure and to further contain costs.
"In the long run, it's going to give the county and the council a lot more control," Fleming said.
Email:mcortez@ksl.com
