January 23, 2024 |
Photo – High Country Behavioral Health in Rawlins – Bigfoot99 file photo
Recent county commissioner comments regarding a lack of mental health services in Carbon County prompted the High-Country Behavioral Health Executive Director to respond personally.
The Wyoming Department of Health provided High Country Behavioral Health with approximately $5 million dollars last year to provide mental health services for seven counties in the state. Roughly $1.5 million of that total was earmarked for Carbon County.
On January 2nd, the Board of Carbon County Commissioners met with representatives from Wyoming Department of Health to discuss who the state agency designated as the county’s mental health provider. The board expressed disappointment that High Country Behavioral Health was the sole entity chosen to receive state funding and that they were not involved in the selection process.
At the January 2nd meeting, Wyoming Department of Health Senior Policy Analyst Franz Fuchs told the commissioners that the state would not provide funding to any other organization except High Country.
Bigfoot99 reported on the story and included some of the board’s comments regarding their disapproval of the state’s selection.
Hearing the story, High Country Behavioral Health Executive Director Kipp Dana called into the show to respond to the board’s comments.
At the January 17th Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Executive Director Dana appeared in person to confront the board about the comments made about his mental health center.
Dana said from July of 2022 to June of 2023, High Country Behavioral Health has treated 373 people in Carbon County. The High Country executive director said despite some of the board’s claims, his organization has gone far above what Wyoming Department of Health requires.
When speaking to Department of Health Senior Analyst Fuchs at the January 2nd meeting, the board said High Country Behavioral Health failed to provide the county with necessary emergency detention services for individuals suffering from a mental health crisis.
At the January 17th meeting, High Country executive director Dana said in fiscal year 2022 2023, his organization spent 31.58 hours responding to 37 mental health emergencies in Carbon County. The High Country executive director said the board was incorrect to insinuate that his organization was not upholding its end of the state’s contract.
Commission Chairwoman Sue Jones took responsibility for making the comments to which Dana objected. Jones said High Country receives millions of dollars of state funding to provide emergency detention evaluations, a service called gatekeeping. The commission chairwoman said Dana’s organization does not perform gatekeeping in every county, despite charging the state for those services.
Dana said High Country Behavioral Health receives $5 million to provide mental health services in seven counties across the state. Dana said roughly $1.5 million of that total is set aside for Carbon County.
Chairwoman Jones asked Dana if High Country provided mental health gatekeeping services for other counties in Wyoming. Dana said county officials control gatekeeping services, but his organization can offer assistance when requested.
County Civil Attorney Ashley Davis said she reviewed the contract between Wyoming Department of Health and High Country Behavioral Health. Attorney Davis the state requires the mental health center to provide emergency gatekeeping services. The county attorney asked Dana how much of the $1.5 million provided by the state is spent specifically on mental health emergency detention evaluations. Dana said gatekeeping comes out of a $600,000 pool set aside for outpatient services.
During the January 2nd Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Wyoming Department of Health Senior Analyst Fuchs said the state will change the way it reimburses community mental health centers for gatekeeping services in the coming fiscal year. Fuchs said instead of one lump sum, the state will provide financial incentives to organizations that can keep 900 of the most at-risk individuals in their communities and out of jails and hospitals.
At the January 17th meeting, High Country Behavioral Health Executive Director Dana said Wyoming Department of Health is solely responsible for selecting the 900 people they will track. Dana said the county does not have a way to ask the state agency to add individuals to the list.
Dana said he fears that none of the 900 people tracked by the state will be in Carbon, or any of the other six counties covered by High Country Behavioral Health. The executive director said the high-risk individuals are most likely going to reside in more populated areas of the state.
From July 1st, 2023, to December 31st of the same year, High Country Behavioral Health treated 237 people with mental health disorders and 46 people with substance use disorders in Carbon County. Commission Chairwoman Jones said 283 people isn’t enough. Chairwoman Jones said the state, the county, and High Country need to do more to provide mental health services for residents.
Dana said his organization could provide better mental health services if the state would fix Title 25, the statute that governs mental health crisis support. The High Country executive director also said he needs more qualified employees.
Dana asked to meet with the county attorney’s office to determine what type of mental services are needed in Carbon County.
