Using BHO Insurance for Rehab

As one of the leading addiction treatment facilities in Nevada, Desert Hope believes it is very important for all of those in need to have access to high-quality, evidence-based care.To offer services to more people than ever before, Desert Hope now accepts Nevada’s Behavioral Healthcare Options, Inc. (BHO), a form of insurance that focuses specifically on treating mental health and substance abuse.

What Is Behavioral Healthcare Options, Inc.?

BHO was founded in 1991 when UnitedHealthCare discovered a greater need for insurance coverage specifically for behavioral medicine: substance abuse treatment and mental health care. This insurance group also works with Employee Assistance Programs and work-life services, which helps to manage stress levels to ensure happy and healthy residents of Nevada.

As an insurance company, BHO aims to manage behavioral health services in the least restrictive way possible, giving those who need help the widest range of options so they can get the best healthcare available. BHO offers help through the following services:

• Professional counseling
• Online help
• Phone consultations

In order to ensure those with this insurance receive the best behavioral healthcare available, BHO has set up a 24-hour nursing line, so individuals have access to professional, experienced nurses; health risk assessments, aimed at prevention, intervention, and self-management; wellness programs, including health coaching; case management; and consultation for employers working to improve their human resources offerings and Employee Assistance Programs.

Addiction and Mental Health in Nevada

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reported, in their Behavioral Health Barometer for Nevada, published in 2014, changes to substance abuse patterns and addiction across the southwestern state. Between 2012 and 2013, adolescents in Nevada abused illicit substances at a slightly higher percentage than nationally:

• 10.2 percent of Nevada’s adolescents abused illicit drugs compared to 9.2 percent across the United States.
• Between 2009 and 2013, 11.7 percent of all adolescents in the state reported abusing illicit, intoxicating substances in the month prior to the survey; this represents 25,000 adolescents.

Between 2009 and 2013, about 16 percent of people between the ages of 12 and 20 in Nevada reported binge drinking alcohol in the prior month. In that time, 12 percent of adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 began abusing alcohol. About six out of 10 adolescents did not believe there was a health risk associated with drinking five or more drinks one or two times per week.

Among those 12 and older, 201,000 individuals reportedly abused or were physically dependent on alcohol (9 percent). Among people ages 18 and older, about 6.9 percent of those surveyed – 130,000 adults in Nevada – reported heavy alcohol use, which is typically measured as more than seven drinks per week.

Additionally, 6 percent of adolescents, ages 12-17, began abusing marijuana between 2009 and 2013; and 3.8 percent began abusing psychotherapeutic drugs for the first time. Eight out of 10 adolescents in the state did not perceive marijuana abuse, at the rate of about once per month, to pose any health risk. About 71,000 individuals ages 12 and older, or 3.2 percent of all those surveyed, reported abusing or being physically dependent on illicit drugs.

Over 70 percent of adolescents in Nevada did not receive treatment for reported depression even though they reported episodes of depression. About 69 percent of adults did not receive treatment for their mental health concerns, although 98,000 adults in the state reported serious mental illness in the previous year.

In addition, too many people in the state did not get the help they needed for substance abuse. Only 9,000 people ages 12 and older in Nevada got the help they needed to overcome alcoholism while 95.4 percent of those who responded to SAMHSA’s survey did not seek treatment for alcohol use disorder. Among those struggling with illicit drug abuse, including opioid addiction, another 9,000 individuals got help at a treatment facility while 86.8 percent who struggled with addiction to illicit drugs did not enter a rehabilitation program.

Las Vegas, one of the largest cities in the county as well as in Nevada itself, has a severe problem with substance abuse, unemployment, and crime. National Geographic reported that, in 2012, Las Vegas’s crime rate was 120 percent of the national average, and the city had the highest unemployment rate nationally. Marijuana and methamphetamines were the two most abused illicit drugs, although opioids are also widely abused in Vegas. However, as of April 2017, the state received $5.6 million to combat opioid abuse as part of the national opioid addiction epidemic; the money comes from a federal program, the 21^st Century Cures Act, which was passed by Congress in late 2016.

Along with expanding programs across the country, Desert Hope’s partnership with BHO will help those struggling with substance abuse, mental health problems, and co-occurring disorders to get appropriate treatment.

How BHO Is Helping Nevadans

BHO offers several plans for diverse needs. For example, their Preferred Provider Organization Networks (PPOs) help individuals seeking addiction and mental health treatment find the services, therapists, social workers, and medical experts they need.

For companies who want to offer help to employees who may be struggling, BHO’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a good option. BHO’s EAP offers assessment for services, counseling, referral and follow-up help, ease of use for employees and their families, and even encouragement to make commitments for treatment.

One of the most important parts of improving behavioral health is hospital follow-up care. BHO acknowledges that up to 40 percent of people who are hospitalized for mental health concerns end up being hospitalized again within one year if they do not receive follow-up care from a physician or therapist. BHO ensures that those using their services receive help managing follow-up treatments, including both counseling and prescription medicines.

BHO’s website provides resources full of information to understand substance abuse and mental health. The organization also helps members manage work-life balance through a program called The Life Connection (TLC), which offers written information, phone consultations, and training and wellness workshops.

Getting Treatment with BHO at Desert Hope

BHO is proudly accredited and certified by URAC, a nonprofit group ensuring high-quality healthcare services in a rapidly changing industry.

Before entering treatment at Desert Hope, we encourage prospective clients or their caregivers to check with us regarding Behavioral Healthcare Options, Inc. (BHO). We are happy to discuss details of this program’s coverage and assess any other available options that might be beneficial to the specific client’s recovery. Give us a call at to discuss your options.