Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Behavioral Health Data topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County health staff review behavioral‑health data, flag EMS coding and telehealth access gaps
Summary
Broadwater County public‑health presenters reviewed January–June 2024 behavioral‑health metrics, discussed Medicaid claim counts and EMS coding gaps, and described available 988 materials and limited telehealth uptake in the county.
County public‑health staff told the Broadwater County Mental Health Local Advisory Council that data for January through June 2024 show patterns that may guide outreach but also contain gaps that limit planning.
The presenter said the county received 21 inbound calls for the period and that Medicaid claims data from a regional source showed 918 behavioral‑health claims for Broadwater County residents; 101 of those listed alcohol as a primary diagnosis. The presenter also said 94 claims were associated with Billings Clinic Broadwater. The presenter cautioned that some figures are incomplete and that EMS coding currently underreports behavioral‑health‑related responses.
Council members and staff discussed the coding issue at length. The presenter said certain calls that involve behavioral health are initially coded as medical calls, domestic disturbances or other categories and that the behavioral‑health flag is not always added after responders determine the situation. Staff said they are working with dispatch and EMS charting staff to improve coding so that behavioral‑health incidents are captured more accurately.
Public‑health staff described telehealth capacity at the county clinic: the county has a private room and computer available for telehealth visits and can help residents complete referral forms for regional providers, but uptake has been low because many patients use smartphones for telehealth or because providers are not yet scheduling consistent on‑site telehealth hours. Staff encouraged partners to refer residents to the regional provider network when assistance is needed with the referral form.
The county also received public‑awareness materials from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services suicide‑prevention program, including 988 coasters, posters and small informational cards. Staff said they plan targeted distribution (for example, to bars using drink coasters) and offered to supply materials to local organizations.
Several council members recommended tailoring 988 outreach to the county’s highest‑calling age groups; the presenter said a plurality of 988 contacts in the data came from people aged roughly 30–49.
No formal action was taken on data or funding at the meeting; staff said they will continue working with dispatch and regional partners to improve data capture and will provide updated statistics when additional months of data are available.
