The Arizona Department of Health Services has awarded a $450 million contract for the provision of public mental health services in Maricopa County to one of the largest and most experienced behavioral health management firms in the nation.
ValueOptions of Falls Church, VA, has been providing public mental health services in Maricopa County since 1998. The company’s current contract is scheduled to expire June 30, 2004.
An independent evaluation team selected ValueOptions to continue providing services in Maricopa County over one other offeror – Phoenix-based Schaller Anderson Behavioral Health.
The team’s exhaustive review of the two proposals consumed nearly three months. The contract will run three years, with an estimated value of $450 million annually, with an option for two more years based on performance.
“ValueOptions’ management expertise and track record of providing quality services in Maricopa County – combined with performance measures we have written into the contract – will ensure continued improvements in how we provide behavioral health services to adults and children,” said Catherine Eden, Arizona Department of Health Services Director.
Michael Zent, Ph.D., CEO of ValueOptions, added: “We are honored to be chosen to continue providing services in Maricopa County. We are committed to providing quality behavioral health services to our community.”
Under the new contract, requirements are spelled out for everything from access to care to data submission. All services must meet the needs of people with mental illness, including easy access to services; consumer and family involvement; collaboration with the greater community; effective innovation; and cultural competency.
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Services will be delivered “with the explicit goal of assisting people to achieve or maintain success, recovery, and gainful employment.”
As of December 2003, there were 60,925 adults and children receiving behavioral health services in Maricopa County. |
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