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County approves Community Bridges contract to operate Melrose Health Clinic
Summary
The Curry County Commission approved a contract with Community Bridges to operate the Melrose Health Clinic and heard clinic details including services offered, an anticipated summer start after licensing, and a proposed payer mix prioritizing Medicaid patients.
The Curry County Commission on April 10 approved a contract with Community Bridges to operate the Melrose Health Clinic, a patient‑centered medical home planned to provide primary care, behavioral‑health services and medication‑assisted treatment.
Rob Neely, representing Community Bridges, told the commission the organization will coordinate the clinic with an upcoming crisis triage center and other local providers. “We will be operating the Horizon Behavioral Health Center and the Crisis Triage Center here in Clovis once construction and licensure are completed,” Neely said, and added the Melrose clinic is intended to bolster the continuum of care.
Brett Sturgeon, vice president of outpatient operations for Community Bridges, described the clinic as a “one‑stop shop” offering primary care for children and adults, counseling, group therapy and telehealth. He said services include medication‑assisted treatment — “Vivitrol, Suboxone for opioid use disorder, and then psychiatric medication management,” he said — and emphasized timely enrollment to engage people as they seek help.
Neely outlined anticipated payer mix and financial plans, saying the clinic expects roughly 60% of visits to be Medicaid, 20–30% Medicare, and a mix of commercial insurance and TRICARE; the organization is negotiating contracts with plans and pursuing value‑based payment arrangements and rural health clinic status to improve reimbursements. Community Bridges representatives told commissioners they hope to begin services “sometime this summer,” pending licensing and contracting.
Commissioners asked about timing and community benefits, noting the facility’s proximity to Cannon Air Force Base and use by surrounding communities. County staff confirmed the contract followed an RFP process and was reviewed by an evaluation committee including county staff and the Melrose mayor; the commission approved the contract by voice vote.
The resolution authorizing the contract is on the county record as RFP 2025/26‑03. The commission did not commit ongoing county funding for clinic operations; presenters said Community Bridges plans to pursue diverse revenue streams and payer arrangements to sustain services.
