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Behavioral Health staff report audit progress, interoperability burden and staffing pressures
Summary
Gary Sanderson and Jessica reported audit corrective actions, new state BHIN requirements (effective 01/01/2026) and interoperability/API standards that county EHRs currently do not meet; the director warned of critical staffing vacancies and outlined retention steps.
Plumas County behavioral‑health staff updated the commission on audit work, new state notices and continuing staffing pressures that could affect service delivery.
Gary Sanderson, the county AOD administrator, said he submitted fiscal‑year audit evidence and a corrective action plan and is awaiting state response on five remaining findings. He summarized two behavioral health information notices (BHINs) that were backdated and take effect Jan. 1, 2026, covering facility licensure fee increases and expanded reporting requirements for substance use disorder treatment facilities.
"The new requirements were effective as of 01/01/2026," Sanderson said, adding his team is reviewing what is required for compliance. He also reported February SUD figures: 45 open SUD charts and 44 unduplicated clients served.
Jessica, who presented the Behavioral Health Services report, said she has submitted corrective action evidence to address network adequacy and timeliness findings and updated several policies, including consent to treatment and timely access. She warned that a recent interoperability/BHIN (26‑8) sets API and data access standards that the county’s EHR vendor (Kingsview) currently does not meet, which would require either a third‑party solution or a major EHR change.
"We are not currently meeting the API standards at this point," Jessica said, noting many small counties face the same vendor limitations. She also discussed interim LPS facility designation guidance that allows some severe substance‑use cases to be treated as LPS inpatient cases but cautioned that few facilities are medically capable and placement capacity may shrink.
The department director (Craig) outlined staffing shortfalls: a part‑time clerical hire will be leaving March 30, openings for systems analysts and an SUD counselor will be posted, and job‑description and wage‑study processes are pending with the union. He said retention tools such as work‑and‑education (WIP) funds can support loan forgiveness for staff who remain 12 months.
Craig also credited a management analyst, Jay Shannon, for negotiating contract savings with telepsychiatry providers that reduced monthly costs by about $3,000. The department announced a virtual community housing meeting on March 17 and plans a news release in the Plymouth Sun to invite stakeholders.
No formal action was taken; commissioners asked follow‑up questions and staff committed to returning with details on implementation and state responses.
