HJAR Nov/Dec 2019

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  NOV / DEC 2019 13 Arkansas State Hospital was founded, there have been great gains in parity between mental health and physical health. Ben- eficiaries now have other means of treat- ment than simply being institutionalized. There has been a shift toward a recovery model, with beneficiaries receiving home and community-based services, and a better understanding of mental health as it relates to a person’s ability to continue functioning independently and productively in society. Editor Are you seeing an increased need for mental health services, and if so, what specifically are you seeing? Hill At Arkansas State Hospital, we have seen an increase in bed requests, particu- larly with regard to forensic patients, but ASH is not the behavioral health system. It is just one component of a growing land- scape of mental and behavioral health services in Arkansas. As communication around mental health disorders improves, beneficiaries are more open and willing to seek treatment earlier than they may have in years past. What was once generally a one size fits all model for treatment, is now diversified through the utilization of both independently licensed professionals and behavioral health agencies who offer com- prehensive home and community-based services. Editor Since we are in the infancy of under- standing mental health, what do you see as the future of mental healthcare? Hill With the focus on mental health ser- vices at a national level, in Arkansas we hope to continue the improvement of access to care for beneficiaries through provider expansion, and to improve the quality of care through a combination of collaborative efforts with providers, and the development of innovative services and payment options. This includes efforts to braid funding from multiple streams, such as state general reve- nue, Medicaid, Medicare, and federal grants and subsidies. Editor What do you see as the role of Arkansas State Hospital in that future? Hill First, provide quality psychiatric care to persons requiring intensive psychiatric treatment not offered by other providers, and regardless of payor source. Second, honor forensic court orders regarding eval- uations and treatment, and when applicable, provide forensic restoration services. Third, train mental health providers across several disciplines (medical students; psychiatry residents and fellows; psychology students, interns, and fellows; social work students and interns; nursing students; etc.). n