This rule establishes the formulas the Utah Department of Health and Human Services uses to allocate adult and pediatric inpatient beds at the Utah State Hospital to Local Mental Health Authorities (LMHAs). Adult bed allocation is based on catchment-area population with a rural differential for smaller counties, while pediatric bed allocation is based on each county's share of the statewide under-18 population. The Office of Substance Use and Mental Health must calculate allocations, resolve rounding issues, and notify each LMHA of any changes, with adjustments taking effect at the start of the next fiscal year.
View official sourceR523. Health and Human Services, Substance Use and Mental Health. R523-24. Utah State Hospital Bed Allocation for Local Mental Health Authorities. R523-24-1. Authority and Purpose. (1) Subsection 26B-5-326(2)(a) and Section 26B-5-327 authorize this rule. (2) This rule establishes the standards the Department of Health and Human Services (department) may use when assisting local mental health authorities in the utilization of unused beds, including: (a) a formula to separately allocate adult beds to local mental health authorities (LMHAs) for persons who meet the requirements of Subsection 26B-5-306(2)(a); and (b) a formula to allocate pediatric beds to LMHAs for persons who meet the requirements of Subsection 26B-5- 306(2)(b). R523-24-3. Definitions. (1) Terms in this rule are defined in Sections 26B-5-326 and 26B-5-327. Additionally: (2) "Adult " means that same as defined in Section 26B-5-301. R523-24-4. Allocation of Hospital Adult Bed Days to Local Mental Health Authorities. (1) The formula to determine adult bed allocation in circumstances when the department assists LMHAs in utilizing unused beds shall be based on: (a) the most recent available population estimates obtained from the Utah Department of Health and Human Service Indicator-Based Information System website; (b) the total adults in the state; and (c) the total number of adults in each mental health catchment area. (2) LMHAs within counties that are currently classified as third class, fourth class, fifth class, and sixth class by the lieutenant governor's office pursuant to Section 17-50-501 are given a rural differential as follows: (a) the total number of adult beds available at the Utah State Hospital shall be determined; and (b) 4.8% shall be subtracted from the total number of adult beds available for adults to be allocated as an urban differential. (3) The total number of available adult beds minus the urban differential shall be multiplied by the mental health catchment area percentage of the state's total adult population to determine the number of allocated adult beds for each LMHA. (4) Each LMHA shall be allocated the total number of beds within the LMHA's mental health catchment area, and any fractional number shall be rounded to the nearest whole bed. (5) The urban differential shall be distributed to each LMHA within an urban county based on the mental health catchment area's respective percentage of urban counties as a whole. (6) Each LMHA shall be allocated at least one adult bed. (7) Adjustments of adult beds, as the formula is applied, shall become effective at the beginning of the next fiscal year. (8) The Office of Substance Use and Mental Health shall: (a) calculate the adult bed allocation; (b) address any rounding issues to ensure allocated adult beds do not exceed total adult beds; and (c) notify each LMHA of any change in adult bed allocations. R523-24-5. Allocation of Hospital Pediatric Beds to Local Mental Health Authorities for Individuals Under the Age of 18. (1) The formula to determine pediatric bed allocation in circumstances when the department assists LMHAs in utilizing unused beds shall be based on: (a) the most recent available population estimates obtained from the Utah Department of Health and Human Service Indicator-Based Information System website; (b) the total number of individuals under the age of 18 for the state; and (c) the total number of individuals under the age of 18 for each county. (2) The total number of pediatric beds available shall be multiplied by each county's percentage of the state's total pediatric population. This will determine the number of allocated pediatric beds for each mental health catchment area. (3) Each LMHA shall be allocated the total number of beds within the LMHA's mental health catchment area, and any fractional number shall be rounded to the nearest whole bed. (4) Each LMHA shall be allocated at least one pediatric bed. (5) Adjustments of pediatric beds, as the formula is applied, shall become effective at the beginning of the next fiscal year. (6) The Office of Substance Use and Mental Health shall: (a) calculate the pediatric bed allocation; (b) address any rounding issues to ensure allocated pediatric beds do not exceed total pediatric beds; and (b) notify each LMHA of any change in pediatric bed allocations. KEY: state hospital bed allocations, local mental health authority state hospital bed allocations Date of Last Change: June 29, 2026 Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 26B-5-326(2)(a); 26B-5-327