Bryce Martin / bmartin@skyhinews.com
Following the sudden news last week that Mind Springs Health would no longer be contracting with the state to provide emergency services, the mental health organization announced today they have partnered with the new provider to extend the transition.
On June 21, it was announced that Rocky Mountain Health Plans, a Grand Junction based mental health organization, would begin providing crisis services for the region, including Grand County, on July 1, despite having little infrastructure on the Western Slope.
The short transition period was a major concern for local mental health providers, so Mind Springs contracted with Rocky Mountain Health Plans to extend the transition period from roughly 10 days to 60 days.
This will allow the local providers to work with the new organization to figure out the crisis response situation, according to Jen Fanning, executive director of the Grand County Rural Health Network.
Mind Springs Health, which maintains a satellite clinic in Granby, held a contract with the state for the past five years to provide mobile and walk-in crisis services across its 10-county service area, which includes Grand County.
Mind Springs Health and the Granby clinic will continue to operate and provide services, so there will be no change to outpatient services. However, emergency services will only be available to clients once the transition is complete.
That contract was put up for rebid in 2017, at which time the state transformed responsibilities, regions and funding allocations, according to Mind Springs officials. The prior 10-county region of service, labeled Region 1, was increased to encompass 22 counties, effective July 1.
Transition conversations are ongoing between Mind Springs Health, Rocky Mountain Health Plan and other local providers, so details continue to evolve.
The local mental health task force will meet at 10 a.m. on July 2 at the East Grand School District board room to discuss the transition.
An initial call to Rocky Mountain Health Plans went unreturned and a second attempt to contact a representative was unsuccessful.