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Board approves multiple behavioral-health contract amendments and expands substance-use treatment access; MAT contract approved after split vote
Summary
The board approved MHSA and school-based mental-health funding and multiple provider amendments. A new $1 million contract with Community Behavioral Health to operate a medication-assisted treatment clinic for substance-use disorder passed 3-2 after debate about costs and facility-use arrangements.
The Board of Supervisors approved a series of behavioral-health measures on May 6, 2025, including school-based specialty mental health funding and amendments to existing contracts for residential and treatment providers. The meeting featured extended discussion about a new medication-assisted treatment (MAT) contract with Community Behavioral Health and financing and facility arrangements for the county's behavioral-health programs.
Why it matters: Lake County has prioritized expansion of behavioral-health and substance-use services over recent years. The board authorized continued MHSA-funded school-based services, extended contract funding for residential providers and approved a one-year, $1,000,000 MAT services agreement intended to increase local access to medication-assisted treatment.
Major items and votes: - Amendment No. 4 to the MHSA agreement with Lake County Office of Education (school-based specialty mental health services, FY2021-26) for $2,112,250: board approved (recorded aye votes). - Amendment No. 1 with Parkview Health Care Center (adult residential and skilled nursing mental-health services) for $340,000 to finish FY24-25: approved; staff noted Parkview will not be contracted in FY25-26. - Amendment No. 1 with Hilltop Recovery Services for ASAM levels 1.0/2.0/3.1/3.5 for FY24-25, $1,963,200: approved. - Agreement with Community Behavioral Health for MAT services for FY25-26 in the amount of $1,000,000: board approved by a 3-2 vote after substantive debate.
Discussion highlights on MAT contract: Director of Behavioral Health Elise Jones explained the MAT clinic will expand locally available medication-assisted treatment and that the services are billed to Medi-Cal (the vendor bills fee-for-service and the county retains a portion for administrative costs). Supervisors pressed department leadership and counsel on the contract's hourly staffing rates, the absence of a separate facility-use or lease agreement for the provider's use of county clinic space and whether equivalent capacity could be hired directly by the county at lower cost. Director Jones said the rates cited on the contract reflect Medicaid fee schedules and that Medicaid reimbursements are flowing; she also committed to work with administration and counsel to address a facility-use agreement.
Outcome and next steps: The MAT contract passed by a narrow majority (3-2). The board directed Behavioral Health to execute the contract, begin services and report back on facility use and lease terms by the end of June. Staff also will include quarterly progress updates on MAT program enrollment and staffing.
Broader behavioral-health context: Supervisors and department leaders reiterated that the county has expanded crisis and peer-run services, launched 24/7 mental-health access lines and grown Medi-Cal reimbursable services in recent years. The board approved MHSA funding amendments to sustain school-based mental-health clinics and to cover current-year residential care needs while contracts are reorganized for FY25-26.
