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Commissioners approve $9.5 million state contract and crisis agreement for Southwest Counseling Service
Summary
The board approved Southwest Counseling Service's fiscal 2027 state contract totaling $9,509,801.77 (with $1,194,001.52 pass-through to Uinta County) and a crisis treatment agreement that includes two crisis residential beds; the interim director said funding structure changes have affected cash flow.
Melissa Ray Marchetti, interim director of Southwest Counseling Service, presented two contracts to the Sweetwater County Board of Commissioners on May 19: the fiscal 2027 state contract and a crisis treatment agreement required to provide crisis services and two crisis residential beds.
Marchetti said the larger state contract totals $9,509,801.77 and includes $1,194,001.52 in pass-through funds to Uinta County for residential beds located near the Wyoming State Hospital. She told commissioners the state contract is unchanged from last year in dollar amounts and service breakdowns, but that the behavioral health system redesign has altered cash-flow timing from a 1/12 payment model to fee-for-service drawdowns, which has reduced days of cash on hand for providers.
Marchetti said Southwest Counseling has successfully drawn down funds under the current model and that quarterly true-up payments follow each quarter; she said the agency expects to be made whole by the quarterly true-ups for the coming fiscal year but cautioned the arrangement for FY28 is not guaranteed.
Commissioners asked about the cash-flow and statutory changes; Marchetti explained true-ups occur in the month following each quarter. Commissioner Jones moved to approve the fiscal 2027 state contract and Commissioner Toman seconded; the motion passed unanimously. The board then approved the crisis treatment agreement and authorized the chair to sign.
Marchetti said this meeting was her last as interim director and she thanked the board; commissioners expressed support and wished the agency well during the leadership transition.
The contracts as described were approved by unanimous vote during the May 19 meeting. For precise line-item accounting and pass-through payments, the county clerk or Southwest CounselingService can provide contract documents and attachments.
