The Arizona Department of Health Services has awarded $360 million in three contracts for the provision of mental health services outside of Maricopa County.
An independent evaluation team spent five months reviewing six proposals before selecting three behavioral health management firms to provide public mental health services to adults and children across Arizona.
“Services to consumers and their families will not be interrupted,” said Department of Health Services Director Catherine Eden. “We are committed to ensuring people with mental illness in Arizona receive the services they deserve.”
Under the contracts announced today:
- Community Partnership of Southern Arizona will continue to provide services in Pima County and in Santa Cruz, Cochise, Graham and Greenlee counties.
- Northern Arizona Regional Behavioral Health Authority will continue to provide services in Coconino, Apache, Mohave, Navajo and Yavapai counties. The independent evaluation team selected NARBHA over one other offerer – Cenpatico Behavioral Health of Austin, Texas.
- Cenpatico Behavioral Health will begin providing public mental health services in Yuma and La Paz counties beginning July 1. The independent evaluation team selected Cenpatico, a national behavioral health care company, over the current Regional Behavioral Health Authority, the EXCEL Group, in western Arizona. Cenpatico will operate in Arizona as the Greater Arizona Behavioral Health Authority.
- Cenpatico Behavioral Health also will begin providing public mental health services in Pinal and Gila counties July 1. The independent evaluation team selected Cenpatico over the current Regional Behavioral Health Authority, Pinal Gila Behavioral Health Association.
Under the new contracts, 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.
Services will be delivered with the explicit goal of assisting people to achieve or maintain success in school and work, recovery, and gainful employment.
The contracts will run three years, with an estimated valued of $360 million annually, with an option to extend the contract for two more years based on performance.
As of January 2005, there were 58,301 adults and children receiving behavioral health services outside of Maricopa County. There are 70,427 adults and children receiving behavioral health services in Maricopa County.
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