The goal of the Alaska Behavioral Health Systems Assessment was to assess the need among Alaskans for publicly funded behavioral health services and to assess the current capacity of the State of Alaska’s behavioral health system to meet that need. Agnew::Beck and subcontractor Hornby Zeller Associates teamed up to conduct the quantitative and qualitative components of the assessment. The quantitative analysis included analyzing client level Medicaid, AKAIMS, and Tribal data to understand utilization trends while the qualitative analysis includes key informant surveys with Tribal and non-Tribal providers throughout Alaska to assess unused capacity and identify policy and regulatory barriers. Together, the data analysis and report of findings provided an improved understanding of the behavioral health system, a methodology and framework for regular monitoring, and recommendations for system improvements.
