OK Lawmakers ask if privatizing Behavioral Health Centers is the answer
NORMAN, Okla. (KFOR) – Lawmakers have asked if privatization is the solution after the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services put out a request for proposal Friday. It’s an RFP, and it’s intended to look for bids for possible private operators regarding Behavioral Mental Health Centers.
Specifically for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs). The RFP states, “Seeking proposals from Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) providers for one or multiple specified catchment areas across the state.
The selected provider(s) will deliver high-quality, integrated behavioral health services consistent with the CCBHC model as defined in federal law, as required under Oklahoma statute and regulation.” After the RFP came out, many behavioral health employees reached out to lawmakers, concerned. “A lot of just confusion, like am I going to have my job?” said Representative Jacob Rosecrants (D-Norman). Rosecrants represents an area in Norman where one of the major areas that could be affected by the RFP if someone wins the bid.
That center is the Central Oklahoma Community Mental Health Center in Norman. “There’s just so much confusion. There’s been turnover; there’s been massive turnover at the center.
And that leaves folks there confused,” said Rosecrants. The agency argued that this is purely a request for proposal and that it might not even happen.
They argued that, “ODMHSAS is exploring whether partnering with a private provider on the department’s CCBHCs could improve technology, expand workforce capacity, and provide more consistent service delivery statewide. No decisions have been made.” Rosecrants said that the bottom line is that the last year or so has been filled with worries surrounding the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
There have been several issues that have plagued ODMHSAS, including the investigation earlier this year that found massive financial strains. At one point, Behavioral Health Centers came out and said that they were still owed $150 million.
Rep. Jared Deck (D-Norman) posted on Facebook in regards to his concerns, “Our state employees, particularly in the field of mental health care, deserve transparency and a plan they can prepare for as their lives change at the whim of the Executive Branch.
And most importantly, our patients deserve quality care that is uninterrupted by these bureaucratically initiated changes. Personally, I’ll add that, until ODMH fixes the problem with fulfilling pended payments for serving the uninsured, the CCBHC model will continue to suffer from ODMH’s lack of financial stability over the past years, which ultimately hurts patients and staff.” ODMHSAS argued that the RFP s focused on the state-operated CCBHCs, plus Oklahoman and Logan counties.
Those two counties are being reopened due to greater demand and population size. This will enable us to expand services and meet the demand.
They added that the RFP is focused on the state-operated CCBHCs, plus Oklahoman and Logan counties. Those two counties are being reopened due to greater demand and population size.
This will enable us to expand services and meet the demand. “The number one concern I’ve heard is it’s just the chaos and just no answers,” said Rep. Rosecrants.
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Insurance company denies life-saving medicine multiple times The bidding process goes on for 30 days and started on December 12th. A Town Hall was planned from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday and was said to have several lawmakers in attendance, along with behavioral health employees.
The invite said, “The state is looking to put profits over people, again. Join the town hall for Community Behavioral Health employees and concerned citizens on
Wednesday to speak about options, plans, and how to organize.”