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DHHS explains complaint process after reports of unlicensed mental‑health agencies
Summary
DHHS licensing staff said complaints alleging agencies operate without required licensure are investigated; if a provider lacks a license DHHS will help them apply, but some agencies staffed only with credentialed professionals may be exempt from DHHS licensure.
Amanda Slater, assistant deputy commissioner with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, opened the quarterly contracted-provider call and turned a licensing complaint to Travis in the Division of Licensing and Background Checks.
A caller said 'at least 0.5 or 0.667 of the mental health agencies in my county' appeared to be operating without licenses and that their complaint had not elicited a response. Travis said DHHS does accept and investigate complaint submissions but does not always send outcomes back to complainants. 'If we do find that a provider is operating without a license, we will work with that provider to submit their application and to get license,' he said, adding that investigations and application processes can take time.
Travis also spelled out a common source of confusion: agencies that employ only licensed professionals (for example, clinicians with professional credentials) may be exempt from DHHS licensure, while organizations that employ non‑credentialed staff who interact face‑to‑face with clients or have access to client records do require DHHS licensure. 'If they employ staff who obviously do not have that professional credential... then, yes, they would then need a license through DHHS,' Travis said.
DHHS invited providers who have not received responses to follow up directly with the licensing team and promised targeted follow-up for the caller who reported no response. The agency did not announce any immediate enforcement actions on the call and described compliance work as a mix of technical assistance (helping providers apply) and potential additional actions if providers do not move toward licensure.
