LINCOLN — Nebraska mental health providers are touting a “revolutionary” proposal to establish federally-certified behavioral health clinics in communities across the state.
Lincoln State Senator Anna Wishart on Tuesday introduced a bill through the state’s Medicaid program to help develop at least six clinics in Omaha, Lincoln, Fremont, Kearney and Hastings.
During his six years in the legislative branch, Mr. Wishart spoke about Nebraska’s lack of mental health services, how that lack affects state and local prisons, and how law enforcement is being served. I have heard many requests for services.
Her Legislative Bill 276, she said, is an opportunity for the state to “strengthen” to address the problem.
“It’s a more modern way of managing healthcare for people with mental health issues and struggling with addiction,” Wishart said.
The bill calls for “accredited community behavioral health clinics” to provide mental health services on par with federally accredited health centers such as OneWorld and the Charles Drew Center in Omaha, which provide a wide range of health care services to low-income families. am.
Data, Savings Are “Familiar”
About 500 community behavioral health clinics have been established across the country to improve outcomes for people seeking sobriety and stability, and urgent care for those at risk, said Topher Hansen of Lincoln’s Centrepoint Therapeutic Campus. Proven to avoid more expensive trips to the treatment room.
“The data is well known and the cost savings are well known,” says Hansen.
Last year, officials from Missouri’s accredited behavioral health clinics told state legislators that the establishment of such centers would expand access to mental health care and help more clinicians and psychiatrists. He said he got a job.
Such “accredited” community clinics will need to offer nine core services, so a wider range of help will be available and more accessible, proponents say. Such clinics are also being called upon to seek better coordination with local law enforcement.
Bob Shueey of Hastings and Kearney’s South Central Behavioral Services says that the current system leaves few mental health providers fully capable of delivering high-quality services.
remove the “barrier”
“This creates difficulties as people often encounter barriers when trying to navigate the system to find the specific service or provider that offers the service they need,” Shueey said. I’m here.
Hansen said CenterPointe’s motto is to help people help themselves.To prevent relapse and promote healthy living.
with center point The Lutheran Families of Omaha and the Community Alliance of Fremont and Omaha are already developing accredited community behavioral health clinics as a federal demonstration project. Other clinics are in development at Heartland Family Services and South Central Behavioral Health in Omaha.
LB 276 is executive director of the Nebraska Association of Behavioral Health Organizations to not only increase funding and set up a more stable funding process for such clinics, but also to include them in amendments to the state’s Medicaid programs. Annette Dubus said.
Dubas, a former state senator, said such clinics would be “transformative” in other states.
A similar proposal last year had a fiscal memo of $10 million for state and federal costs, but failed to move forward. However, Wishart said he has high hopes for the LB 276 because the concept is well known.
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