Earlier this year the Governor signed HB 2634 which directs us to develop new rules for licensing places that can provide both behavioral and physical health services. We’re excited about this rulemaking because it supports our efforts to establish coordination and collaboration between all behavioral health and physical health providers. We’ve developed a preliminary plan to facilitate the integration of behavioral and physical health services in health care institutions.  As part of the plan… we’re holding public forums to share information about the plan starting today.

Anybody interested is invited, just simply sign-up for a forum soon, as seating capacity is limited!  We encourage input and participation in this important rulemaking process. We’ve also established a User Voice blog so that everyone has an opportunity to contribute their thoughts and opinions.

The first forum was this morning in Phoenix and it was packed.  Those who came had great questions and got a lot out of it.  There are three more forums that you can take part in –  December 9 (Tucson), December 14 (Mesa), and December 14 (Apache Junction).  More details are available on the behavioral health licensing rule website.