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Island County approves ASO contract amendment, holds back $60,000 amid state proviso uncertainty
Summary
The Board of Island County Commissioners approved a contract amendment with the North Sound Behavioral Health Administrative Services Organization and agreed to withhold funds sufficient to cover a $60,000 potential clawback tied to state proviso dollars for pediatric integrated behavioral health services.
Island County commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a contract amendment with the North Sound Behavioral Health Administrative Services Organization (ASO) that adds six months of funding for student support advocates, housing and recovery peer supports, co-responder services, Trueblood-related counseling, and opioid outreach programs.
The board approved the amendment with a condition that the county hold back funds sufficient to reimburse $60,000 if the state reclaims proviso dollars from the ASO. The vote was unanimous.
The proviso question arose during discussion of how the ASO had blended state proviso dollars across multiple subcontract items. Island County staff member Linda Austin said the county had not yet confirmed whether, if the state reclaimed the proviso funds from the ASO, the ASO would in turn seek repayment from counties. "I don't know. We haven't talked about that with the ASO. I can't give you a firm answer," Austin said.
A commissioner asked, "If we have to give it back, do we have $60,000 to make good on that contract?" County staff replied the amount could be covered from fund 110 if repayment proves necessary.
Commissioners described the situation as confusing to the public because agenda items and contract amounts appeared to overlap: the transcript records comments that $69,000 appears in one contract line while $60,000 of that amount was a subcontract to Pediatric Associates for integrated behavioral health. One commissioner said the Pediatric Associates subcontract is "a great program" and that the board is supportive of the county's preventive work with children and families.
Board members also criticized the prospect of a retroactive statewide clawback. "It feels like one administration shouldn't be able to claw back funding that another administration allocated. Somebody should pass a law about that," one commissioner said during debate.
Staff said the county could choose not to spend the proviso-designated portion of the amendment until the ASO and the Health Care Authority (HCA) provide clearer direction on the state-level action. The board adopted a practical approach: approve the contract amendment now to continue funded services while reserving funds to cover the $60,000 exposure if the ASO or state requires repayment.
Votes at a glance
- Contract amendment with North Sound Behavioral Health Administrative Services Organization (Item 4): Approved unanimously (3-0). Motion approved with direction to hold sufficient funds to repay $60,000 if a state proviso clawback requires repayment.
The board had no further regular agenda items and adjourned until the Board of Health meeting at 1 p.m.
