SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — A legislative audit has uncovered a troubling gap in Utah’s mental health care system, leaving families desperate for treatment for their children.

The audit found that nearly 70% of providers listed in insurance directories are not actually accepting new patients. Lawmakers call them “ghost providers.”

“They called up 180 providers in insurance directories and found out 69% of them were ghost providers, meaning they’re not accepting patients,” Rep. Steve Eliason, R-Sandy, said. “That’s a false promise.”

For parents like Bobbi Lord, that false promise has had life-or-death consequences.

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Her 12-year-old daughter began talking about suicide last year. Despite working with her school on a 504 plan, Lord said her daughter’s mental health spiraled.

“We tried to work with teachers, and there’s only so much that the schools can do,” Lord said. “We finally got her in for a psychologist review, and she was diagnosed with severe depression, anxiety and ADHD.”

Her daughter was hospitalized before Christmas. She eventually entered a day treatment program, but insurance deemed her healthy after only four weeks.

When asked if that was enough time, Lord said no.

“We were just trying to keep her alive for a month until the treatment program started,” she said. “Then, just as she was starting to benefit, it ended.”

Mental health professionals said the problem extends beyond ghost providers.

Dr. Douglas Goldsmith, a child psychologist, said many providers are choosing not to accept insurance at all.

“Providers are tired of the work it takes to bill insurance companies,” Goldsmith said. “I would say maybe half are still billing insurance, and probably half are choosing not to.”

That leaves families waiting weeks or months for help — if they can afford it at all.

Lord said it took more than a month for her daughter to enter a treatment program, even after being hospitalized.

“It feels like it took me years to get some traction, somebody to help us,” she said. “We’re trying to come up with plan B and C and D. I’m back to where I don’t know what to do next.”

Eliason said the Legislature is looking at ways to hold insurance companies accountable.

“They’re overpromising and under-delivering,” he said. “That’s extremely disheartening, especially if you have a child that’s really suffering. There’ll be more discussion about this going forward.”

For parents like Lord, change can’t come fast enough.

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