Bill would make crisis stabilization centers eligible for licensure and Medicaid

When Douglas County deputies respond to a call for someone having a mental health crisis, one of the most common questions is “Does Mallory have a bed?”

The deputies are referring to the Mallory Behavioral Health Crisis Center, which opened in Carson City in 2017 and has been a lifeline.

A recent rework of Senate Bill 156 deemed crisis stabilization centers eligible for licensure, as well as reimbursable by Medicaid, significantly expanding access to mental health and substance use care for people across Western Nevada.

“We are extremely grateful for the State’s efforts to work with community partners to develop sustainable funding for crisis stabilization services,” said Carson Tahoe Health Director of Behavioral Health Services Christina Sapien.

In 2019, a generous multi-year pledge of $800,000 by the Mallory Foundation (bringing their total support of Carson Tahoe to over $2 million) allowed for the expansion of Carson Tahoe’s Mallory Behavioral Health Crisis Center, more than doubling the center’s capacity for treatment.

Mallory was originally built in response to a profound community need, and in collaboration with the state, sheriff and city manager.

“The vision and implementation of the Mallory Crisis Center has provided a critically needed service to Carson City's public safety net, and quickly became the go-to center throughout the entire Northern Nevada region,” said Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong. “The services provided by the center and staff have given precise, effective and efficient alternatives to jails and emergency rooms for persons who are suffering and in need of immediate care. With the increased emphasis by law enforcement to provide mental health crisis teams, the Mallory Crisis Center serves as a prominent partner of public safety outreach efforts and, most importantly, critical and compassionate patient care.”

Because Mallory is one of the first of its kind, with a unique model of care (intervening before a patient is admitted to an emergency room), it remains an example for other crisis stabilization centers across the nation.

“Expanding Mallory and making it sustainable for our community has been a huge priority of ours. Before Mallory opened their doors, patients experiencing a psychiatric crisis had limited treatment options,” said Michelle Joy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Carson Tahoe Health. “Most patients ended up in the emergency department or jail. Many were kept in the Emergency Department on psychiatric hold for up to six days until a bed was available in an area treatment facility.”

Carson Tahoe Health has been able to provide this care as a result of support from donors, but this type of mission-driven work has been tough to sustain without a mechanism to bill appropriately for services rendered. Now, with SB156, crisis stabilization care here and elsewhere in Nevada can flourish.

“We have seen firsthand how the availability of these services improves people’s lives, as well as community coordination and resilience,” Sapien said. “We celebrate the State’s decision to develop both a default rate and a cost-based rate, as this reflects the flexibility needed for us to truly innovate and make progress as a State with respect to behavioral health.”

To learn more about the comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach of the Mallory Behavioral Health Crisis Center, visit CarsonTahoe.com/BHS. To donate in support of Carson Tahoe’s continuing commitment to expand access to care, visit CarsonTahoe.com/Give.

Located at 775 Fleischmann Way in Carson City, the Mallory Behavioral Health Crisis Center can be reached directly at (775) 445-8889, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Law Enforcement, Emergency Responders, and Emergency Rooms may also directly phone the center to triage anyone who is in mental health and/or substance use crisis. Additionally, community providers can also refer potential clients to the center.