Today, HonorHealth and Universal Health Services, Inc. signed a partnership agreement to address the growing, currently unmet need for accessible, high-quality advanced behavioral health services in Phoenix, Scottsdale and the surrounding communities.
HonorHealth selected UHS, one of the nation’s most respected providers of hospital and healthcare services, as its partner because of its behavioral health expertise and the shared vision and commitment to patient- and family-centered care. UHS is also known for strong clinical outcomes and a proven track record of partnering with academic medical centers, regional networks and community-based entities.
UHS will be the majority owner and will oversee the day-to-day operations and management of the new, freestanding 120-bed behavioral health facility, to be constructed at 9160 East Horseshoe Road in Scottsdale, Arizona, on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. The state-of-the-art facility will span more than 73,000 square feet, and will significantly improve access to care for the full continuum of behavioral health programs and services. Groundbreaking is expected to take place in January 2020, with an estimated opening of 2021.
“As a nonprofit, locally owned healthcare network, we see the importance of making a significant investment to provide treatment for patients with behavioral health needs and substance use disorders in our community,” said Todd LaPorte, CEO, HonorHealth. “By partnering with UHS, we’re expanding HonorHealth’s network to meet a growing need and providing more access points across the care continuum.”
The new facility will provide a full continuum of inpatient services across the entire patient population, including specialty programs to serve adolescents, adults and older adults, and perform behavioral health assessments 24 hours a day. Additionally, programs for co-occurring behavioral health and substance use issues will be offered to meet the unique needs of this patient population. The facility will provide a robust outpatient program utilizing a combination of group, family and individual therapy. Treatment options will include both intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization. Programs will include services for patients dealing with depression, anxiety and bipolar disorders, as well as schizophrenia and other prevalent behavioral health issues.
“UHS is pleased to collaborate with HonorHealth, a premier healthcare organization, to provide critically needed behavioral health services,” said Matt Peterson, Executive Vice President and President, Behavioral Health Division, Universal Health Services. “UHS continues to expand its partnerships with leading healthcare organizations across the country to develop behavioral health solutions to meet the unique needs of the system and community. HonorHealth shares our mission to provide patients and their loved ones with compassionate, high-quality behavioral health care, services and support.”
Behavioral healthcare continues to be at the forefront of societal concerns among healthcare providers, government officials, legislators and community service organizations in Phoenix and across the country.
Thirty-six percent of adolescents in high school reported having depression symptoms in 2017. In the state of Arizona from 2006 through 2017, emergency department utilization for behavioral health-related disorders increased 173 percent across all primary payers. This breakdown includes increases in self-pay (16 percent), private insurance (127 percent), Medicaid (245 percent), Medicare (181 percent) and other (424 percent). The only primary payer that saw a decrease from 2006 to 2017 was Indian Health Services (at a 20 percent decrease).
