SummitStone Health Partners, Larimer County鈥檚 largest safety-net behavioral health provider, last week. They serve some of the county's most vulnerable residents, including low-income families on Medicaid and the uninsured.
In an email to KUNC, SummitStone鈥檚 CEO, Michael Allen called this 鈥渘ecessary鈥� due to a significant disenrollment in Medicaid in the county and a change in Medicaid鈥檚 reimbursement structure. On top of that, the number of uninsured people needing uninsured services from SummitStone has climbed. The result? Less Medicaid reimbursement coming in and the level of uncompensated care going up, creating financial challenges.
The 75 discharged employees were notified last Thursday morning, many during in-person meetings.
鈥淚 started crying. There was no way to emotionally prepare for that,鈥� Anne Avonlee, a former clinician and Forensics Program Manager said. 鈥淪o we asked about severance, and they said that they weren't able to do that.鈥�
Avonlee, at 32-years old, says that she so enjoyed helping people through her work with the county鈥檚 Wellness Court and Recovery Court programs that she hoped to stay at SummitStone until retirement. Now, she鈥檚 worrying about mortgage payments.
鈥淚'm a little nervous about jumping in with another business,鈥� Avonlee said. 鈥淚 don't know if I have the mental energy right now to start a private practice or if that's what I want to do.
SummitStone Health Partners provides a variety of mental health and addiction services at its Larimer County facilities, serving more than 10,000 people each year, many of whom are Medicaid clients. In December, SummitStone opened its Acute Care Facility, a first-of-its kind crisis center in Fort Collins, presented as an option for struggling residents instead of going to the hospital or being taken to jail.
Robert Welborn, a SummitStone Behavioral Health Consultant who was also laid off, notes that the organization is involved in many parts of life in Larimer County through partnerships within the judicial system, school systems and homeless services.
鈥淪o I think we're going to see ripples of all of them kind of navigating this new change of maybe losing some partnerships, losing some staff, an influx of clients who have to shift services,鈥� Welborn said.
CEO Michael Allen wrote in an email that he does not expect service disruptions at the Acute Care Facility in Fort Collins but noted more generally that there will be 鈥渟ome delays and interim care plans.鈥�
鈥淭he concern comes back to client abandonment,鈥� Avonlee said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 clients who say 鈥楿gh, I have a new therapist.鈥� Even when there is a smooth transition. 鈥楿gh, I have to get another therapist. I have to tell my trauma history again. Some of these clients don't have the choice to go somewhere else for services.鈥�
The need for care in Northern Colorado is significant. that nearly a quarter of adults in Larimer County said someone in their household had recently received mental health treatment. An additional 12% reported needing care but not getting it.
