 |
The primary provider of behavioral health services for Logan and Champaign counties is considering a merger with or acquisition by another service provider as a path into an uncertain future.
“We can see the storm ahead, but we are a little boat,” Jeannie Dempster, executive director of Consolidated Care Inc., said Tuesday evening during the board meeting of the Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Services of Logan and Champaign Counties.
“I think we do amazing work, but unfortunately, this field, especially when you’re small doesn’t have the capacity.”
Small organizations like Consolidated Care are having a difficult time adjusting to a complicated new statewide Medicaid reimbursement process referred to as the Behavioral Health Redesign.
CCI was able to begin billing for service in January but payments have been slow and erratic in arriving, financial officer Denise Casto reported. With little in the way of cash reserves, she said paying expenses timely is beginning to be a real concern.
They stressed, however, that the organization, which provides boots-on-the-ground services to individuals struggling with addiction and substance abuse, those diagnosed with mental illnesses, suicide prevention and mental health outreach programs in the schools, will continue to provide those services uninterrupted.
Read complete story in Wednesday’s Examiner.
CLICK HERE to subscribe today!
WEB EDITION STARTING AT $9.50 FOR 5 WEEKS!