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Board hears staffing and program updates; members flag HR 1 risks to Medi‑Cal coverage
Summary
Board members and staff discussed concerns about HR 1’s impact on Medi‑Cal enrollment, reported operational transitions (Wellpath takeover of jail mental health services), recent peer hires for the MIST team, contract and billing updates, committee activities and upcoming community events.
Board members used the communications and reports portions of the meeting to highlight legislative concerns, program activity and staffing changes.
Natalie Arroyo said she had been in Sacramento for budget and legislative meetings and told the Board she was "concerned" about HR 1, adding that the change could cause many people to lose Medi‑Cal coverage and that funding for public hospitals was a topic of discussion. Behavioral Health Director Emi Botzler‑Rodgers told the Board staff are assessing HR 1’s likely impacts on Behavioral Health clients and are working with Public Health on Community Reinvestment funding to help clients retain Medi‑Cal coverage. "HR 1 is bringing challenges and staff are looking at the impact this will have on Behavioral Health clients on Medi‑Cal," she said.
Deputy Branch Director Paul Bugnacki reported the county is receiving attention for CARE Act implementation, that supervising clinician Megan Sheeran was honored at a recent Crisis Intervention Training, and that Wellpath has taken over mental health services at the jail; staff are working on a transition plan to make the handover smooth. Bugnacki also said the Mobile Intervention and Services Team (MIST) hired two new peer staff this week and that collaboration with the City of Eureka and Tribal partners on mobile crisis services continues. Jeremy Nilsen noted ongoing updates to contracts and site certifications and said staff are addressing new state billing rates and developing clinical and non‑clinical Performance Improvement Projects.
Other brief committee updates included Danette Kellerman’s SUD Committee note about Recovery Connections and a request for a July co‑chair, and Bob Dougherty’s report that the Older Adult Committee met and will continue work on a statement of purpose and membership.
Administrative actions recorded during the meeting included unanimous approval of the April 23, 2026 minutes (to be posted online) and unanimous approval of membership applications for Allen Miller, Eddie Morgan and Saul Lopez; both approvals will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for final action.
