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News
By Quinn Illi
CRYSTAL FALLS – The Iron County Board of Commissioners heard once again from representatives of Northpointe Behavioral Health at its May 14 meeting.
Northpoint Behavioral Health CEO Jennifer Cescolini and Erin Kusz, the chief clinical officer presented the agency’s annual report and addressed concerns voiced by the board at last month’s meeting, concerns relating to the screening of individuals in crisis, drop-in centers, and the equality of care between patients with Medicaid and those without.
Commissioner Michael Stafford asked Northpointe: “How are you going to prevent what’s happening recently here with that, a lot of our requirements or concerns are not being addressed? Are you going to put in some type of review?”
When later asked what specific concerns the board still had, Commissioner Stafford declined to elaborate and instead stated that the board is “just going to let [Northpointe] do their work.”
“What I’d like to do is just highlight, in a report, what the issues are and do progress updates,” said Cescolini. “And I’d be happy to come speak to you guys, if you want a quarterly [report].”
Steven Tinti, the civil counsel, asked: “Looking at your pie chart [provided to the Board], it shows about 84 percent of your revenue is medicaid based. And I think we talked previously, when you’ve appeared, that counties, by delegation of responsibility and authority, Northpointe has an obligation to provide mental health services for all those in need. How do we cover the gap of those individuals that are not covered by medicaid or can’t necessarily be covered immediately by medicaid when we’re dealing with crisis issues?”
This was a major issue discussed at the previous board meeting.
“That comes from the general fund,” said Cescolini, “Anybody that does not have medicaid will come from the general fund.”
“For crisis services,” said Erin Kusz, “not ongoing services.”
“Is there any distinction between a medicaid-eligible crisis person and a non-medicaid-eligible crisis person,” asked Tinti, “as far as financial support from your organization?”
“Everybody is treated the same,” said Cescolini.
In more direct response to previous concerns about the availability of services, in this case, specifically for children, Cescolini stated that the agency have moved some staff into schools directly to provide services there, allowing all students a much higher level of availability. They have also begun the process of licensing homes to become therapeutic foster homes (the goal of which is to have the children move back in with their guardians afterwards).
Northpointe also employs a peer mentor, who is someone with a learning disability who has been through Northpointe services and can more directly relate to current patients to help with their services.
Cescolini explained that Northpointe launched a program two years ago as a behavioral health group home with integrated care including behavioral health and medical support, as well as support for dental and vision needs. Since its launch, the agency has opened a second facility in order to offer an assisted living program, allowing individuals to still receive support from Northpointe while living more independently with more personal responsibilities.
Other improvements that were mentioned include an increase in intensive outpatient care and reducing hospitalization for those receiving intensive outpatient care and testing patients to be able to scientifically measure the effects of medication and verify patient’s adherence to prescriptions.
The Iron County Board of Commissioners also addressed the following matters at its May meeting:
• Commissioner Stafford spoke in opposition of the Ax Mi Tax petition, which seeks to eliminate property taxes in Michigan, with Stafford saying that it would greatly hurt municipal governments and cut funding to many local programs/organizations such as the library and medicare. Stafford said overall “It’s a good concept, but at this point I don’t believe it’s very well thought-out.”
• The Iron County Economic Chamber Alliance’s Fast Track Grant portal is now open which gives new businesses up to $2,500. More information available at iron.org/fast-track-grant.
• The Iron County Housing Commission received a letter of support from the board regarding the sale of many of their apartments and a change in how the remaining apartments will be funded.
• The Board approved a project to remove Eurasian Watermilfoil from Chicaugon Lake.
• Central Dispatch was approved to seek two full-time dispatchers.
• The Sheriff’s Office was approved to purchase a full body scanner for use in the jail, at a cost of approximately $185,000.
The Iron County Board of Commissioners meets the second Tuesday of each month at 4 p.m. in the Iron County Courthouse. The next meeting will be held on June 11. More information is available at ironmi.org.