Sound in the News: Puget Sound Business Journal

Opinion: Pandemic’s toll on community behavioral health must be recognized

By Patrick C. Evans – Sound

Mar 3, 2021

Declaring that the Covid-19 pandemic has caused community behavioral health providers to pivot and rapidly adapt, would be an understatement.

Our industry responded quickly to the health care crisis — as quickly as any health care provider community — and by doing so, saved lives. We pivoted swiftly to activate and expand telehealth access where possible, while maintaining in-person care where essential. We continued to serve our community’s most vulnerable and ensure the safety and stability of our workforce. We did this just as other health care providers did, like nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospitals and clinics.

Unlike those other providers, however, community behavioral health has not received Covid-19 specific rate increases to offset the high costs we assumed.

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