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What We Do

Salt Lake County's Division of Behavioral Health Services (DBHS) is the administrative arm of the Local Authority (County Council), regarding public mental health and substance use disorder systems of care.

The Division oversees a managed-care system responsible for all publicly-funded behavioral health care services. This includes managing the county’s pre-paid (at-risk) behavioral health Medicaid plan for all county residents, as well as managing the Alternatives To Incarceration (ATI) programs.

The Division supports a comprehensive continuum of services, including:

  • Crisis intervention
  • Mental Health treatment
  • Substance Use Disorder treatment
  • Aftercare and recovery support services (e.g., transitional housing, social support, employment, continued care, etc.)

While the Division does not treat clients itself, it utilizes a group of subcontracted treatment providers, located all throughout Salt Lake County, who are responsible for the care and treatment of county clients. Additionally, the Division subcontracts with the University of Utah's Assessment & Referral Services to perform assessments as well as to offer free interim group services for individuals who may have to await admission into treatment because of limited availability.

If you are seeking substance use disorder services for yourself or a loved one, you should read the following article:

Effective Addiction Treatment

Confidentiality

(Excerpt from 2006 Edition of Confidentiality And Communication, A Guide to the Federal Drug & Alcohol Confidentiality Law and HIPAA by Legal Action Center)

The technology explosion has changed the way most people do business. Programs must now preserve the confidentiality of patient records using systems that electronically transfer information.

HIPAA permits health care providers to share personal health information (PHI) for treatment purposes without first obtaining patient consent. It does not allow for the sharing of PHI to entities other than health care providers without consent. HIPAA also require providers to follow State laws that relate to health privacy and provide protections that are "more stringent" than HIPAA. 45 C.F.R. § 160.203(b). Many States have such laws, particularly to protect sensitive information such as that which is related to one's HIV status, other sexually transmitted diseases or mental health. Because there is no indication at this time that participation in the NHIN would be voluntary, and because there does not appear to be any mechanism to block access to certain sensitive personal health information, providers who exchange information that is protected by a more stringent State law would violate both HIPAA and the State law. To remedy this conflict, we believe that participation in the NHIN should be voluntary, not mandatory, and that the system designed to allow providers to block access to certain types of PHI protected by State of Federal law. But those are our views and will not necessarily be what the law provides.

While HIPAA allows disclosure of information for treatment purposes, 42 C.F.R Part 2 does not permit such a disclosure unless a patient first provides a voluntary, written consent. Before a treating professional who is covered under 42 C.F.R. Part 2 can make a disclosure of PHI - even if it is to another health care provider, let alone to other entities such as the criminal justice or welfare systems - the patient must sign a consent form, utilizing the specific and detailed consent form required by 42 C.F.R. Part 2, section 2.31. Consequently, alcohol and drug treatment programs should not be required to participate in the NHIN, since their compliance would depend upon each patient agreeing to sign a consent form, unless there is an exception for the records of patients who refuse to consent. Otherwise, if any patient decided not to sign the consent form, which is certainly within the patient’s rights, the program could not comply with both 42 C.F.R. Part 2 and the NHIN. But again, those are the views of the Legal Action Center and not necessarily what will occur.

Salt Lake County Behavioral Health Services (SLCoBHS) understands that your personal information is private. Protecting your health information is important. We follow strict federal and state laws that require us to maintain the confidentiality of your health information.

When you receive treatment services from SLCoBHS and its providers, we may use your personal information for treating you, billing for services, and conducting our normal business known as health care operations. Examples of how we use your information include:

We keep records of the care and services provided to you. Our providers use these records to deliver quality care to meet your needs. For example, your therapist may share your health information with a specialist who will assist in your treatment. Some health records, including confidential communications with a mental health professional and substance abuse treatment records have additional restrictions for use and disclosure under state and federal laws.

We keep billing records that include payment information and documentation of the services provided to you. Your information may be used to obtain payment from you, your insurance company, or other third party. We may also contact your insurance company to verify coverage for your care or to notify them of upcoming services that may need prior notice or approval. For example, we may disclose information about the services provided to you to claim and obtain payment from your insurance company or Medicare.

We use health information to improve the quality of care, train staff and students, provide customer service, manage costs, conduct required business duties, and make plans to better serve our communities. For example, we may use your health information to evaluate the quality of treatment and services provided by our therapists and other health care workers.

We may also use your health information to:

  • Recommend treatment alternatives.
  • Tell you about health services and products that may benefit you.
  • Share information with third parties who assist us with treatment, payment, and health care operations. Our business associates must follow our privacy practices.
  • Remind you of an appointment (optional, notify the scheduler if you do not wish to be reminded).

There are limited situations that permit or require us to disclose health information without your signed authorization. These situations are:

  • To protect victims of abuse, neglect or domestic violence.
  • For health oversight activities such as investigations, audits, and inspections.
  • For lawsuits and similar proceedings.
  • When otherwise required by law.
  • When requested by law enforcement as required by law or court order.
  • For research approved by our review process under strict federal guidelines.
  • To reduce or prevent a serious threat to public health and safety.
  • For workers’ compensation or other similar programs if you are injured at work.
  • For specialized government functions such as intelligence and national security.

All other uses and disclosures not described in this notice require your signed authorization. You may revoke your authorization at any time with a written statement. See a Privacy Coordinator at the site where you received your services or the Privacy Officer for more information.

We are required by law to:

  • Maintain the privacy of your information
  • Provide this notice that describes the ways we may use and share your health information
  • Follow the terms of the notice currently in effect

We reserve the right to make changes to this notice at any time and make the new privacy practices effective for all information we maintain. Current notices will be posted in SLCoBHS facilities and on our website. You may also request a copy of any notice from the Salt Lake County Behavioral Health Services office.

You have the right to:

  • Request restrictions on how we use and share your health information. We will consider all requests for restrictions carefully but are not required to agree to any restriction. In the event we cannot honor your request, we will notify you of our reasons why, and provide you with information on your rights to appeal.
  • Request that we use a specific telephone number or address to communicate with you. Reasonable requests for alternate communications will also be granted.
  • Inspect and copy your health information, including medical and billing records. Fees may apply. Under limited circumstances, we may deny you access to a portion of your health information and you may request a review of the denial.*
  • Request corrections or additions to your health information.*
  • Request an accounting of certain disclosures of your health information made by us. The accounting does not include disclosures made for treatment, payment, and health care operations and some disclosures required by law. Your request must state the period of time desired for the accounting, which must be within the six years prior to your request and exclude dates prior to April 14, 2003. A fee may apply.
  • Request a paper copy of this notice even if you agree to receive it electronically.

* Request must be made in writing. Contact SLCoBHS for the appropriate form for your request.

This notice describes the privacy practices of Salt Lake County Behavioral Health Services (SLCoBHS) and its contracted providers. Contracted providers are not employed by SLCoBHS but are authorized to provide services to Salt Lake County residents referred by SLCoBHS or have a contractual relationship with SLCoBHS.

Providers may have different privacy practices from those described in this notice. For more information about the privacy practices of providers, please contact them directly.

If you would like further information about your privacy rights, are concerned that your privacy rights have been violated, or disagree with a decision that we made about access to your health information; or if you would like to file a complaint, contact Brian Currie.

You may also contact the provider where you received services.

We will investigate all complaints and will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

Brian Currie

Behavioral Health Services

(385) 468-4711

2001 South State Street, Ste S2-300
PO Box 144575
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114