We’ve recently discussed how the American healthcare system can be confusing. This is especially true when it comes to mental health insurance benefits, as far too many people are unaware of the fact that their health insurance policies usually provide for benefits that relate to mental health. We discussed this troubling lack of awareness as well, so if you haven’t recently, please do review your policy so you’re aware of what you have working for you. After all, this is an investment you made in yourself and anyone else on your coverage, so don’t hesitate to use it if you need it.
Along those lines, SoCal Empowered has been working to expand our reach as an inpatient Orange County mental health provider. We may have two locations in Orange County, California, but we work with people from all over the map. To that end, we are striving to make it as simple and smooth as possible to come and stay with us if you or a loved one needs help with mental health. One of the ways we are doing that is by becoming in-network mental healthcare providers for health insurance companies.
We are pleased to announce that we have agreed to become such an in-network provider for Behavioral Health Systems, or BHS, one of the leading healthcare programs for business and industry that’s been helping people heal since 1989. Below we’ll provide a brief introduction to Behavioral Health Systems and include an explanation of what it means to be an in-network provider.
About Behavioral Health Systems
Behavioral Health Systems is the quintessential American professional success story. It began in 1989 in Birmingham, Alabama as a privately-held corporation. Since then, it has grown into one of the 20 largest insurance benefits organizations in the United States. These days, Behavioral Health Systems administers a national preferred provider organization, or PPO, of behavioral health-related hospitals, physicians and other medical professionals.
You can review a more exhaustive list of Behavioral Health Systems’ accomplishments here, but just a few examples include:
- An 85% employer-client retention rate since inception (1989)
- Superior client cost savings (20-50% avg.) at 50-70% below national cost averages
- A 96% patient satisfaction rate since 1994, with our measurement system cited as superior to our national peers
- Growth to 50+ employees (Birmingham headquarters) and establishment of three regional offices (Cleveland, OH; Atlanta, GA; New Orleans, LA)
- An (open) preferred provider organization model (30,000+ providers) which ensures maximum freedom of choice
- An excellent reputation in the industry which continues to generate substantial publicity and attention
- A diversified revenue base (48 states/500+ clients)
Overall, Behavioral Health Systems states that its mission is:
[T]o provide comprehensive behavioral health services to employers and their beneficiaries which are high quality, cost effective, uniformly accessible, and managed within a least restrictive treatment approach.
Simply put, we are proud to be a part of the Behavioral Health Systems network, as this is an organization that does things the right way.
What Does “In-Network” Mean?
In the United States as in many other countries around the world, healthcare comes with patient costs. How much a medical product or service costs will vary widely and depend on several market-driven factors. That can create a lot of confusion for people who need help, and that’s particularly true if someone sees a doctor or goes to a medical facility that is not in an insurance company’s network.
To put it in specific terms, our inpatient Orange County mental health facility offers an advantage to people who trust Behavioral Health Systems with their mental healthcare needs. That’s because, as an in-network provider, a large majority of the fees associated with our help are mostly defined beforehand. That means that people who need to come and see us will have a very good idea of what will be covered, how much of what they need will be covered and what other costs may remain before they come to stay with us.
This makes a huge difference for people, as no one likes to move forward with any type of service without having a good idea of their potential obligations. In addition to a higher degree of cost certainty, working with an in-network provider like ours means that the entire process of filing and completing claims is generally smoother and more efficient. It also means that Behavioral Health Systems trusts the quality of care that we provide those who stay with us.
How SoCal Empowered Can Help
Mental health insurance is an important thing to have for perhaps more people than realize it. If you or someone you love is struggling with mental health issues, the best first step you can take is to talk to an experienced professional. If you give us a call, that’s exactly what will happen. We will listen to your situation and let you know what we think is the best course of action for you or your loved one.
If that includes a stay with us, then that’s what you’ll hear, but if something else may work better in our opinion, that’s what we’ll tell you. We will also make sure to work directly with your insurance company to define your benefits as best we can before you make any commitments to us. What matters most is that you get the help that you need as soon as possible. Contact us today to find out what needs to be done to improve your current set of circumstances.
