Bear River Mental Health Audit

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter. Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah.  January 8, 2014.  Rob Johnson, Bear River Mental Health, gave the Rich County Commission an update on the organization’s audit for 2012/2013.  The independent auditors gave BRMH a clean audit this year.  The BRMH is required to have 120 days of operating assets to allow for emergencies.

Each year Rich County ‘s share of the  BRMH $5 million budget has been about $10,000.  That small amount is used to match state funds, which in turn matches federal Medicaid funding.   The counties are required to match 20% of the state funding based on population.  The state then contributes $1.8 million which matches $5 million in Medicaid monies to Utah. The total federal funding from which all states receive funding is $135 million. The state will require a greater match this year.

Johnson said that they are making cuts every year.  This year the revenue was cut by $300,000.   Seventy-five percent of cost is in personnel.   BRMH built a building in Tremonton this year with the Bear River Health Department to service the needs in that area.  They pay for Medicaid inpatient costs.  They are buying new computers to overlap.  The state will require a greater match this year.  The federal  block grants have been going down over the years as there are more and more  budget cuts.