Committee approves contract package for medical assistant and telehealth behavioral-health providers

The Del Memorial Clinic Planning Committee voted to send three staffing contracts to the Skagway Municipality board for review and approval: a certified medical assistant (CMA) contract and two behavioral-health telehealth provider contracts.

Committee members approved forwarding the CMA contract after staff explained the new hire replaces a previously approved candidate who could not accept the position; staff noted the CMA contract in packet includes a $25-per-day pay increase compared with the prior submission. The motion to forward the CMA contract was moved by William Lockett and seconded by Lisa Mandeville; the roll-call vote was 4–0 in favor.

The committee also advanced two out-of-state telehealth contracts for mental-health services: a licensed professional counselor (specializing in teens, adolescents and trauma) and a licensed clinical social worker (specializing in veterans and men's trauma). Staff said both positions are for roughly 10 hours per week telehealth and that the clinic’s integrated behavioral-health team will include those providers in weekly team calls. Motions to forward both contracts were approved by roll call, each 4–0.

During discussion of the licensed clinical social worker contract, one committee member declared a personal conflict of interest because the proposed contractor is related to them; the member recorded the conflict but the committee proceeded to forward the contract package to the board.

Committee members said the additional telehealth hours and providers are intended to relieve pressure on existing staff and expand behavioral-health capacity in the community. The motions were forwarded for board review and approval; the committee did not execute final contracts at the meeting.