Behavioral health transition aims to preserve care for current Medicaid patients

The Bear River Health Department is currently undergoing a significant transition to a managed-care Medicaid model. Director Jordan Mathis has announced that the department is prioritizing the continuity of care for current patients, ensuring that those currently enrolled in substance abuse treatment programs can maintain their existing relationships with providers during the shift.

According to the department, patients will be allowed to stay with their established providers provided certain eligibility conditions are met. The goal is to avoid disruption to patient care during the bureaucratic transition, allowing individuals to focus on their recovery efforts without the added stress of finding new therapists or treatment centers.

This transition reflects an effort by the health department to modernize its Medicaid services while remaining sensitive to the needs of its most vulnerable clients. By allowing for a period of continuity, officials hope to maintain positive health outcomes across Box Elder and the surrounding counties as they implement the new managed-care framework.