Wellness Center Approved In Orange County

ORANGE COUNTY, CA - A program two years in the making has been approved by the Orange County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday. A total of $18 million will be allocated for a new mental health emergency room "of sorts," according to the board

The public-private OC Wellness Hub will provide psychiatric services at a new facility at 265 S. Anita Drive. The money for the project comes out of Mental Health Services Act funding.

"This is brand new, never been done before," Supervisor Andrew Do said.

The supervisor characterized the hub as "payer agnostic," in that the services are provided regardless of the patient's ability to pay.

"They get service first and we'll sort out the payer source later," Do said. "This is a really good model and highly valued by all of the stakeholders involved."
The project has been two years in the making, Do said.

"This is a really important step for the county to accommodate this new model," said board Chairwoman Lisa Bartlett. "Somebody who is homeless or has PPO insurance or if it's someone in between, you can be accommodated."

The Wellness Hub aims to lessen "barriers to service and streamlining access for those in need of the most appropriate level of care," according to a staff report.

County officials will now seek permission from the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission next month to use the $18 million on the Wellness Hub plan.

City News Service, Patch Editor Ashley Ludwig contributed to this report.