Deanna Obregon, CEO, Cove Behavioral Health
In an interview with Invest:, Deanna Obregon, CEO of Cove Behavioral Health, discussed its status as Hillsborough County’s only Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic. Cove integrates care to address rising behavioral health needs and is launching mobile outreach programs to enhance accessibility in underserved areas, she said.
How is Cove Behavioral Health addressing trends and challenges in behavioral healthcare?
Cove Behavioral Health is adapting to a shifting landscape where the stigma surrounding mental health and substance use is gradually decreasing, particularly among younger populations. This openness creates opportunities for earlier engagement in treatment, reducing the likelihood of crises. However, challenges like rising suicide rates and the ongoing fentanyl crisis persist, though overdose death rates in Hillsborough County are stabilizing. To address these challenges, Cove embraces a holistic approach that integrates mental health, substance use treatment, and primary care. Florida’s movement toward adopting the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model aligns with this vision. As the only CCBHC in Hillsborough County, supported by a SAMHSA grant, Cove is helping lead efforts to treat the whole person, recognizing the interconnectedness of physical, mental, and substance use health.
Affordability remains a significant concern, as behavioral health services still lack parity with physical health in terms of insurance reimbursement. High deductibles, preauthorization requirements, and limited coverage options present barriers to care for many. To counter these issues, Cove collaborates with community partners to improve access. For example, law enforcement, paramedics, and hospitals now play a vital role in connecting individuals to treatment rather than allowing them to fall through the cracks. Peers embedded in emergency departments at hospitals like Tampa General and St. Joseph’s facilitate warm handoffs for overdose patients, ensuring they transition smoothly into care. These collaborative efforts highlight the importance of a community-driven approach in addressing behavioral health needs, particularly in overcoming systemic barriers to access and affordability.
How has the Florida Medical Clinic Foundation grant supported Cove’s housing-first model?
Cove’s 87-bed homeless shelter operates as a long-term program, allowing individuals to stay up to four months while we assist them in securing benefits like SSI, Medicaid, or the Hillsborough County Healthcare Plan. We also provide vocational training, resume building, and job preparation to support their transition into permanent housing.
The grant funded critical refurbishments to the shelter, which endures heavy use, covering 75 general homeless beds and 12 mental health-specific beds. Some residents also transition into our behavioral health services, addressing substance use or mental health needs. Additionally, our partnership with Tampa Family Health Center ensures residents receive primary care, meeting their physical, mental, and substance use health needs comprehensively.
How is Cove enhancing patient experiences?
Cove is committed to meeting patients where they are, both emotionally and practically. Our Open Access model allows individuals to walk in and receive an assessment the same day they seek help, ensuring timely engagement when they are ready for treatment. We’ve also integrated peer specialists into all programs. These are individuals with lived experience who help patients feel understood and supported during their journey.
To further enhance engagement, we use technology like apps for education, managing triggers, and providing encouragement. These tools keep patients connected between visits, reinforcing their commitment to treatment and increasing the likelihood of long-term recovery.
How is technology transforming operations and patient care at Cove Behavioral Health?
Cove is leveraging technology to deliver more personalized care. We are exploring predictive analytics, using data like diagnoses, history, and demographics to identify the most effective treatment approaches for each patient. This shifts us from a one-size-fits-all model to tailored care plans informed by evidence from similar cases.
Though in the early stages, this approach represents the next frontier for Cove, helping us better align services with individual needs to improve outcomes and ensure more effective, data-driven care.
How is the organization addressing workforce challenges?
As behavioral health workforce shortages have been exacerbated by many licensed professionals leaving the field since COVID. Our reputation as a comprehensive training ground for outpatient, residential, and medication assisted treatment makes Cove an ideal place for individuals to develop and learn.
To retain staff, we focus on building a strong team culture through events like holiday parties and team-building activities, while also investing in professional development and advancement opportunities. For recruitment, we collaborate with universities, high schools, and medical residency programs, offering hands-on experience in addiction treatment, an area often overlooked in medical training.
As a nonprofit, we try to compete on salaries, but we prioritize fostering a sense of belonging and community, making Cove a place where people feel valued and want to stay.
What are your thoughts on the rising costs of healthcare, and how is Cove working to mitigate these for patients?
Healthcare costs have surged due to inflation, affecting supplies, food, insurance, and especially salaries, which is the largest expense for providers. COVID-19 further accelerated salary increases amid workforce shortages, adding pressure to budgets.
Cove mitigates these challenges through fundraising and grants to ensure patients who can’t afford treatment still receive high-quality care. We maintain competitive pricing and secure external funding to bridge financial gaps. For insured patients, we work with the patient to access their available benefits while keeping treatment options affordable.
However, reimbursement rates have not kept pace with rising costs, especially in behavioral health, creating an unsustainable gap. This issue could lead to limited services or longer wait times without systemic reimbursement changes. Addressing this imbalance is critical to ensuring care remains accessible and sustainable.
What are some significant partnerships Cove Behavioral Health has fostered to enhance patient care or workforce development?
Partnerships are central to Cove’s mission, helping us meet the diverse needs of our community. We collaborate with Tampa General Hospital and BayCare to streamline transitions from emergency departments to treatment, ensuring seamless care. In education, we’ve worked with Hillsborough County Schools to incorporate programs like RX Smart and Understanding Mental Wellness into their curriculum, building student awareness and resilience.
Our partnership with Champions for Children provides parenting classes for residents, including parents seeking reunification with their children. We also train USF residents and fellows in addiction treatment, addressing gaps in medical education, and work with OB-GYNs to support pregnant women with substance use disorders, helping them deliver drug-free babies.
Collaborations with behavioral health organizations like Gracepoint and ACTS ensure coordinated care for patients in crisis, while partnerships with Tampa Police and the Sheriff’s Office focus on treatment over incarceration. These relationships reflect our belief that Cove thrives through community collaboration, supporting prevention, treatment, and recovery.
What are Cove Behavioral Health’s top priorities for the next two to three years?
Cove is focused on expanding its impact through innovation and outreach. We are participating in a national clinical trial testing a potential medication for cocaine use disorder — our first trial and the only site in Florida — which underscores our commitment to advancing behavioral health interventions. We aim to build on this by exploring additional clinical trials to shape future care approaches.
As the only Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) in Hillsborough County, we’re also helping guide the development of a statewide certification process while strengthening integrated care models. Additionally, we lead Hillsborough County’s Zero Suicide Alliance, bringing together community partners to reduce suicide rates through coordinated strategies and support systems.
To increase access, we’re launching a mobile outreach program for HIV and Hepatitis C testing, education, and behavioral health assessments to reach individuals who might not visit our facilities. A mobile unit for medication-assisted treatment is also in development to provide addiction care directly to underserved communities. These initiatives reflect our dedication to innovation, accessibility, and meeting the evolving needs of our community.
