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Oneida County approves opioid-funded onboarding for two behavioral health therapists
Summary
The Executive Committee approved creating two full-time behavioral health therapist positions and authorized up to $43,980 in opioid settlement funds to cover onboarding costs; the positions are expected to be partially self-funded by insurance billing and were forwarded to the County Board as a consent item.
The Oneida County Executive Committee voted March 25 to create two full-time Behavioral Health Therapist positions in the Human Services Department and to authorize up to $43,980 in opioid settlement funds to cover onboarding costs.
Hoerchler, who presented the request, said the department faces a therapy waitlist of “over 50” people now and that hiring typically takes as long as six months; she warned the list could rise above 100 by fall. She told the committee that once positions reach roughly 50% direct billing to insurance they would become self-sustaining and that Vilas and Forest counties have agreed to pay portions of the initial onboarding costs.
The committee approved the resolution (motion Hess/Jensen; vote All Aye) and separately approved using opioid settlement funds for Oneida County’s share of onboarding (motion Jensen/Showalter; vote All Aye). The opioid funding authorization cites Wisconsin Act 57 of 2021 and Oneida County Resolution #58-2022 as the settlement framework and was forwarded to the County Board as a consent agenda item.
Administrative Coordinator and County Clerk Tracy Hartman urged caution and asked the committee to add language making clear that if the positions do not reach the projected 50% insurance funding threshold the positions could be eliminated so costs would not be added to the county tax levy. The committee approved the resolution with an explicit follow-up condition that if 50% insurance funding is not met the matter return for further consideration within six months.
Supporters said the positions address a documented local need and that other contract counties have confirmed funding support for initial costs. Opponents’ comments focused on timing and whether hires should be handled through the regular budget cycle; the committee’s motion requires a six-month review if billing targets are not met.
The resolution and the opioid-fund authorization move next to the County Board as consent agenda items. If approved by the board, the county will begin onboarding; staffing timelines will depend on recruitment and credentialing processes.
