Committee approves contracting two psychologists for court‑ordered competency evaluations to reduce costs

The Health & Human Services Committee authorized county staff to contract with two psychologists to perform court‑ordered competency examinations and related report work (described in the meeting as "730 examinations").

County behavioral‑health staff said the county previously used a contract with Upstate but has struggled to schedule evaluations and found the hourly model more costly. Staff recommended contracting psychologists at an all‑inclusive per‑evaluation rate to reduce costs. “For $350 to $400 in evaluation, I think that's huge,” a behavioral‑health staff member said during discussion, contrasting that with the higher hourly costs reported from the previous vendor.

Staff explained procedural details: evaluations can take several hours (assessment plus write‑up), often happen virtually with the subject in the jail or brought to the clinic, and the county currently uses one contracted psychiatrist but needs two clinicians per exam (and sometimes a third if evaluators disagree). The committee discussed whether local Auburn Community Hospital psychiatric staff might be available as additional evaluators.

Members approved the resolution by voice vote. Staff noted that if evaluators must testify in court there may be additional fees and that nurse practitioners’ authority to perform some functions is expanding but, under current practice, competency exams require a psychologist or psychiatrist.

The resolution appears on the agenda as HH5. Staff said the county hopes the contracted psychologists will lower per‑exam costs and improve scheduling reliability.