This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Salt Lake County has seen broad changes to mental health care services over the last several years, shifting from a single Medicaid provider to over 200 providers. With that has come anxiety and confusion due to great change and limited information.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness-Utah is concerned for the individuals being transferred from Valley Mental Health to other OptumHealth providers. Again, we see a lack of information, political wrangling and financial constraints impacting individuals caught in the middle.
Every effort should be made to alleviate uncertainty, fear and anxiety surrounding these changes. Any escalation of symptoms or barriers to availability of providers, access to medication, or transfer of records should be addressed immediately and effectively.
We call on Salt Lake County, OptumHealth and Valley to ensure that those who are being transferred from Valley services be given every assistance in transferring smoothly to a provider that is available and accessible, able to meet their therapeutic and medication needs.
We applaud Mayor Ben McAdams' decision to call for an audit of county mental health services, requesting it be independent, have a strong family/peer voice and be publicly available.
Rebecca GlatharExecutive directorNational Alliance on Mental Illness-Utah
West Valley City