By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Horizons Mental Health Center CEO Mike Garrett told Hutch Post that they have told the Federal government that they are working as a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic.
"We sent in our attestation Monday to SAHMSA saying we're up and operational as a CCBHC," Garrett said. "We aren't certified because that has to be developed by the state. We're already meeting all those standards that SAHMSA says we have to meet."
HB 2208 that was passed this session by the Kansas legislature creates the framework for KDHE and KDADS to decide what needs to be done to get that state certification.
"Those standards would be around such things as access, how quickly do you have to get people in to care," Garrett said. "It could be around clinical issues, that you have to do a suicide risk assessment on everybody that comes in to the center for care. You have to demonstrate that you're using evidence-based practices in the treatment of these individuals. Those will be the standards, which we're already meeting."
The CMHCs that already have federal grants from SAHMSA are helping make sure that every level is asking for the same things as much as possible.
"The six CMHCs that are working on this process of becoming certified are helping KDADS and KDHE develop those standards. KDADS is also looking at other states that have already developed these standards and what they are doing. They are also engaging consultants from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing that's been supportive of the CCBHC model, as to what they would recommend for those standards. They're bringing in a lot of people that have already been down this path as they help Kansas develop what's going to be right for Kansans."
Garrett is glad to see Horizons using this standard of care as he believes it will be the best standard for years to come.