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Commissioners consider leasing Tucasa to a behavioral-health provider and pursuing CCBHC model; RFP and startup costs discussed
Summary
After years of studies, commissioners debated leasing the county-owned Tucasa facility to a provider offering Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) services. Commissioners favored issuing an RFP that specifies reimbursable service lines and noted startup costs (equipment, vehicles) and opioid-settlement dollars as potential funding.
Grant County commissioners opened a substantive discussion June 9 about the future operations of Tucasa, the county’s crisis-intervention facility, and whether to pursue a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model or lease the site to a provider.
Commissioners said they have accumulated multiple reports and years of study and that the county should move from planning to action. “I think it’s time for this commission to look at Tucasa and decide what direction we need to head with Tucasa,” the chair said during the ICIP and other-item discussion, summarizing the view that studies are sufficient to start a procurement process.
Key points in the discussion: - Model and reimbursement: Commissioners and staff emphasized the importance of a reimbursement mechanism. County staff and multiple speakers noted that CCBHCs require a set of core services but offer established reimbursement that can make operations financially sustainable. Staff cautioned that providers typically require start-up assistance for facilities and equipment. - Lease vs. county operation: Staff recommended leasing the facility to a qualified provider and using a lease to require specified services, since the county lacks operational expertise to manage a behavioral-health care contract. The county manager explained the state board of finance must approve long-term leases, adding a procedural step. - Start-up funding and sustainability: Commissioners discussed potential use of opioid-settlement funds and other grant sources to underwrite initial equipment and mobile crisis response costs. Commissioners agreed to emphasize services that meet gaps identified in prior regional landscape studies — mobile crisis, crisis triage, peer and family supports — and to write an RFP tied to reimbursable services.
Next steps: Commissioners signaled support for issuing an RFP to lease the Tucasa facility to a provider meeting the identified service mix and with a clear reimbursement path. Staff were directed to draft procurement language and return with an approach that limits county operational responsibility while protecting service expectations.
Provenance: Discussion and staff comments during the June 9 work session.
