During new business, a commissioner described the five‑county consortium that provides behavioral health services in parts of southwest Washington and the county’s effort to rein in what a board member described as overreach by Community Integrated Health Services (CIHS).

A commissioner told the board the Great Rivers Behavioral Health Organization covers five counties and "work[s] with the service providers for mental health and other behavioral health issues within our county." The commissioner listed the consortium’s members as "Wekiakum, Grays Harbor, Pacific, and Lewis and our county." He said CIHS was established to fill service gaps but has expanded into multiple areas. "It has really grown… CIHS offers and has its tentacles in a lot of different things," the commissioner said, and the board has been working to "lean and trim that down" to the services originally intended.

The board discussed concerns about potential duplication of services and stated its intent to return CIHS to its initial scope (gap services) rather than creating new, county‑level programs to address provider shortfalls. A separate board member praised the commissioner for taking a lead role in reviewing CIHS and said the Board of County Commissioners appreciates the work.

No formal motions or votes concerning CIHS were recorded in the transcript. The discussion amounted to oversight and direction from board members to refine CIHS’s role and reduce duplication with existing service providers. The board will continue oversight work and follow up in future meetings.