Behavioral Health Commission asks Legislature for range of funding to shore up crisis care, hospital capacity and peer supports

Representative Brady Eliason, a member of the legislative oversight board for the Behavioral Health Commission, told the Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee that the commission submitted a set of funding recommendations aimed at gaps in Utah's behavioral health system.

The commission recommended increases and one-time investments across crisis services, peer supports and state hospital capacity to reduce pressure on emergency departments and jails and to improve continuity of care, Eliason said.

The package calls for a small ongoing boost to peer support Medicaid rates (just under $24,000 in the commission's request) to reduce churn among workers who provide lived-experience supports; continuation of a 5% pandemic-era Medicaid increase for behavioral providers that expires June 30, 2025; a 26% raise for Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (MCOT) reimbursement;…