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Albany County approves contract with Ivinson Memorial Hospital for emergency detention holds under Wyoming statutes
Summary
The Board approved a services agreement with Ivinson Memorial Hospital governing emergency detention holds under Wyoming law; staff said the county pays at the statutory rate (hospital bills at Medicare rate cited in the meeting) and described procedures for notification and re-evaluation of detainees.
The Board approved a contract with Ivinson Memorial Hospital covering services for emergency detention holds pursuant to Wyoming statutes cited in the meeting. Jennifer, the county staff presenter, said the hospital bills the county at the Medicare rate used in the contract and that the county receives monthly bills, which it reviews to ensure charges apply only to Albany County residents.
Jennifer explained statutory responsibilities in emergency detentions: the hospital evaluates a potential emergency hold within the first 24 hours and performs periodic reevaluations (every 48 hours) while the person remains under detention. She said the county is statutorily obligated to pay for the first three days of a hold (excluding weekends and holidays) per statute language in the agreement, and staff described their practice of comparing monthly bills to confirm county responsibility when the patient is an Albany County resident.
Discussion touched on capacity and placement: hospital behavioral health units have limited isolation/restraint space and may not be able to hold aggressive patients; when hospital beds are not available the county may consider holding a person in the detention center as a last resort or seek placement at WBI in Casper or in Cheyenne if space is available. The Board approved the contract by voice vote.
