Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Mental Health Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Humboldt Supervisors approve intercounty agreement for shared mental-health advocate
Summary
The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors approved a multi-county sharing agreement for a mental-health advocate, moving reimbursement from regional mental-health authorities to an administrative service organization (ASO). The agreement continues until terminated with notice and will be circulated to partner counties for signature.
The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors on a voice vote approved a shared-services agreement to provide a mental-health advocate across Humboldt, Pocahontas, Webster and Wright counties.
The contract — described in the meeting as the “2080 agreement” — was presented to the board as a continuation of a sharing arrangement that had been funded through regional mental-health regions that ceased June 30. Sandy, a county staff member who presented the item, told supervisors, “Nothing will really change other than we’ll get reimbursed from the ASO instead of from the regions.” The board voted “Aye” and the motion carried with no opposition announced.
Why it matters: the change shifts the reimbursement mechanism for the advocate from the mental-health regions to an administrative service organization (ASO) identified in discussion as Iowa Primary Care. Board members and staff said the agreement was circulated to county attorneys and other counties involved; the presenter said John drafted the agreement and that it had been sent to the other counties’ boards for review.
Board discussion and scope: the presenter said the sharing arrangement will continue unless terminated, with a 60-day notice required to end participation by any party. Supervisors asked about where the advocate will be based and how coverage will be handled; the presenter said Humboldt will serve as the employer of record and as a convenient base for travel, and that the advocate currently splits time among the four counties. The presenter said she typically spends a couple of days a week in Webster County and will travel as needed for client visits and court hearings.
Next steps and implementation: the board approved the agreement and directed staff to send it to the other counties for signatures and to be present at other counties’ meetings to answer questions. The presenter said she will attend Pocahontas, Wright and Webster county board meetings the following week to explain the agreement and collect any feedback.
No individual vote tallies were recorded in the transcript; the motion passed on a voice vote with no recorded opposition.
