ValueOptions(R) New Mexico Delivers $7.3 Million to Community Behavioral Health Care Providers and Programs
Posted on: Monday, 7 April 2008, 09:01 CDT
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., April 7, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Today ValueOptions(R) New Mexico, the Behavioral Health Organization that serves New Mexico for the state's behavioral health needs, announced it would award more than $7.3 million to 82 behavioral health care providers for the expansion of community-based services across the state. In addition to the $3.1 million already planned to be distributed for community reinvestment funds for 2008, ValueOptions is providing another $4.2 million in order to create the Community-Based Services Expansion Fund, for the development of community-based behavioral health care services statewide.
"We are pleased to provide this supplemental funding to expand behavioral health care services throughout New Mexico," said Mary Mastrandrea, Interim CEO of ValueOptions New Mexico. "The organizations receiving the funds are working hard to develop the additional services needed by the people in their communities, so they can receive help without having to travel far from home."
As in the past, ValueOptions(R) New Mexico contributes a portion of its funding toward developing or improving community behavioral health programs and projects. This year, $3.1 million is being distributed as part of the Community Reinvestment Program. However, ValueOptions received proposals for $20 million in projects, with only $3.1 million to award.
As a result, ValueOptions has decided to create the new Community-Based Services Expansion Program, and to fund it at this time with $4.2 million, which it will now donate to some of the organizations around the state that had hoped to receive grants from the Community Reinvestment Program. The availability of the additional $4.2 million is the result of effective management of the public health care dollars ValueOptions(R) New Mexico receives along with an overall effort by the state to increase enrollment.
Those additional resources are important as ValueOptions(R) New Mexico is now awarding a total of $7.3 million to fund programs to get more community-based services operating for the people of New Mexico.
"We are hopeful that as the contract year continues, we may be able to add more funds to the new program. If that is the case, ValueOptions(R) New Mexico may approve additional requests," Mastrandrea said.
Organizations receiving the financial support from ValueOptions(R) New Mexico include local counseling centers, family and youth support groups, and substance abuse clinics in communities across the state. Other beneficiaries, such as the University of New Mexico Telehealth Network, will provide statewide services.
"The wraparound service that Multi-Systemic Therapy provides is vital. Oftentimes, families have difficulty accessing this type of treatment," said Kathleen Hunt, Executive Director of Border Area Mental Health Services, Inc., of Silver City, N.M. (serving Grant, Luna, Hidalgo and Catron Counties). "Thanks to ValueOptions(R) New Mexico's funding, we will be able to reach these families who otherwise might not be able to receive these important and needed services."
"Thanks to these funds from ValueOptions(R) New Mexico, we will be able to help individuals recently released from prison assimilate into society," said JoAnn Del Curto, Executive Director of Torrance County Counseling, LLC, in Moriarty, N.M. "There are many people who are released from jail and cannot afford insurance for behavioral health. We will be able to help a population that sometimes gets lost because they cannot obtain the help they so desperately need."
Organizations requesting funding submitted formal proposals and were selected after careful consideration by ValueOptions(R) New Mexico and the New Mexico Behavioral Health Purchasing Collaborative.
About ValueOptions(R) New Mexico
ValueOptions(R) New Mexico is the statewide entity that manages public funding and delivery of care for behavioral health in New Mexico. The organization is committed to providing behavioral health services that are both culturally competent and responsive to the unique needs of New Mexicans. For more information, go to http://www.valueoptions.com/newmexico.
About ValueOptions(R), Inc.
ValueOptions(R), the nation's largest independent behavioral health care company, provides services to more than 23 million individuals through a variety of contracts with state and county agencies as well as with health plans and employers. ValueOptions(R) is a national managed care company that specializes in management for all behavioral health issues, mental health and chemical dependency diagnoses. For more information, go to http://www.valueoptions.com/.
ValueOptions New Mexico
CONTACT: Laurie Falconer, +1-505-888-5877, lfalconer@dwturner.com, forValueOptions(R) New Mexico
Web site: http://www.valueoptions.com/newmexico
Source: PRNewswire
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