County plans to piggyback off of Linn County contract for mental health help

By STEPH TAHTINEN

Mt. Pleasant News

Instead of renewing its own contract with St. Luke?s in Cedar Rapids, Henry County will be ?piggybacking? off of Linn County?s contract to provide mental health services to its residents.

This decision was made by Sarah Kaufman, Henry County central point of coordination (CPC) after St. Luke?s changed the language in its contract saying the contract superceded any management plan ? a clause that many counties disagreed with. In early August Kaufman met with other county CPCs to work on a plan for this contract.

?I?m going to continue to support the unanimous plan,? said Kaufman, though she thought it was best for Henry County to piggyback off of Linn County?s contract with the hospital, as Linn County?s contract does not include the debated clause. When a provider contracts with multiple counties, a county can piggyback off the host county.

On Kaufman?s recommendation, the board of supervisors approved a contract to piggyback off of Linn County on Thursday morning.

?Piggybacking doesn?t necessarily require a contract,? explained Kaufman, but she said she was more comfortable having a contract so that if necessary she could refer to the paperwork should a problem or discrepancy arise.

The contract is not official yet, as St. Luke?s has not yet approved it.

?St. Luke?s may not accept it. Ultimately it?s up to them to accept it,? said Kaufman.

The county will not be getting any sort of financial break, said Kaufman, noting that the cost is still the same. However, one benefit with being able to follow the Linn County contract with St. Luke?s is that it includes voluntary commitments; Henry County?s contract did not.

Kaufman and the supervisors also discussed a possible agreement or contract with Henry County Health Center to provide beds for mental health patients when needed.

When Kaufman has a client who needs to be at a hospital, often there is a lot of time spent calling facilities around the state looking for a bed for that patient.

?The crux of a lot of the problem is a lack of beds for mentally ill patients,? said Kent White, supervisor vice chairman. In the past few months, Kaufman has reported to the board on the scarcity of beds.

Occasionally HCHC has had to provide a bed until the patient can be transferred to another facility.

?They (HCHC) don?t have the specialty to feel comfortable doing it, but they?re an emergency department,? said Kaufman. She noted that an agreement could eliminate the need to call over eleven different facilities looking for an empty bed.

Besides being beneficial time wise, the agreement could simplify things financially.

?You?re just helping offset their costs and setting a price,? said Kaufman.

It might also make things easier when calling for an empty bed, she noted, as the facilities often want medical information about the patient?s condition, which she is unable to provide like the hospital could.

The supervisors and Kaufman also made plans for her to attend their monthly meeting with Insight Human Services Administrator Todd Meyer on Sept. 1, to discuss budgetary concerns. The IHS budget is a part of the CPC budget, and Kaufman once again expressed concern over the budget, as recent figures show the county is spending almost $37,000 more than it has money for in the service based category of the two departments? budget.

It is to the point where Kaufman is considering starting a waiting list for clients, but said that IHS?s spending must be cut back first.

?Lots and lots of money is going out at IHS. They need to be reigned in first before I start making a waiting list,? said Kaufman.

On a positive note, Kaufman noted that IHS?s extra-curricular income has been growing. Yet, the expenses have also grown.

?It?s growing, it?s just not matching the expense,? said Kaufman.

In other business, the supervisors passed a resolution to set a public hearing on the Elmwood Cemetery property for 9 a.m. on Sept. 8.

As the cemetery association no longer exists, the county plans to take possession of the cemetery. The county plans to transfer the cemetery to the Center Township trustees, who will maintain possession of the burial ground and sell the excess 2-1/2 acres not used for burial.