For the sake of mental health

After 50 years of serving the county, Carbon County Counseling will be undergoing a transition. 

On September 1, CEO Patrick Gonzales approached the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC) for a letter of support in regards to the acquisition and merger of Carbon County Counseling and High Country Behavioral Health. Joining Gonzales was High Country Behavioral Health CEO Kipp Dana.

“We are seeking the commissioners, essentially your blessing, in support of a acquisition/merger between High Country Behavioral Health and Carbon County Counseling. We have brought this proposal to both of our boards who have both supported and agreed with the decision. We have spoken with the Wyoming Department of Health and Behavioral Health Division. We’ve also received their support and encouragement,” said Gonzales. “This is just another step in the process that we would like the support of the county commissioners in this venture.”

When asked by Commissioner John Espy why Carbon County Counseling needed the support of the BOCCC, Gonzales replied that it was simply a formality similar to when they present their biennial contract applications to the Wyoming Department of Health.

“They just want to make sure that the county commissioners and all those counties where they are contracted are in support of the services we provide even though Carbon County does not provide any financial support,” Gonzales said.

Commissioner Travis Moore asked if the letter of support included language for a change of provider due to the merger between Carbon County Counseling and High Country Behavioral Health.

“There is a preferred provider change of language. It is included in the letter that that language is there and, basically, it’s saying to Director (Michael) Ceballos we’re thanking Carbon County for the services that they’ve provided, that there’s a change in ownership, that the commissioners are asking the State to acknowledge the new provider  and to have the funds that are allocated for the Carbon County area to go to the new owner,” said Dana.

Further discussion revealed that, while other mental health providers could operate in the county, they couldn’t receive funding from the Wyoming Department of Health. Dana informed the commissioners that, of the 23 counties in Wyoming, there were a total of 19 providers that could receive funding from the State of Wyoming.

Carbon County Clerk Gwynn Bartlett expressed concern that funding for mental health in Carbon County could be used in another county where High Country Behavioral Health operated. Dana, in response, stated that there was that possibility and informed the BOCCC of the issues that had been faced by Hot Springs County. According to Dana, Thermpolis had gone from six mental health providers to one and that, due to the partnership with High Country Behavioral Health, excess at one location could be used to aid shortages in another location.

“What we’re seeing is that there’s an increase of a need for services but a decrease in funding that’s coming to provide those and that’s one of the reasons why this merger makes sense,” said Gonzales. “The need for services continues to go up and, unfortunately, the funding streams continue to decrease.”

Gonzales added that the decision to merge with High Country Behavioral Health had not been an easy one nor one made in haste. No formal action was taken on September 1 and the letter of support will be revisited at the next regular meeting.

The next meeting of the Board of Carbon County Commissioners will be at 2 p.m. on September 15 at the Baggs Higher Education Center in Baggs.