San Diego’s Public Mental Health Program in Flux: Claims Backlog and Access Problems Have Plagued the Program Since July

OPEN MINDS, The Behavioral Health & Social Service Industry Analyst Cover Story A claims payment backlog, not enough staff to answer the phones, and not enough providers to serve consumers were just a few of the problems plaguing the San Diego County mental health services program, which was awarded to United Behavioral Health (UBH) in August of 1997. The County sent a Notice of Corrective Action to UBH approximately six weeks ago, and according to Saul Feldman, Ph.D., chairman and chief executive officer, UBH has wasted no time in fixing the problems. "The claims backlog should be cleaned up . . .