The Executive Committee of the Lycoming-Clinton Joinder Board on Wednesday approved an agreement that will allow the company managing the agency's Health Choices program to continue doing so.
Since 2007, Community Behavioral Health Care Network of Pennsylvania has been managing the Health Choices program, which is a state program that provides mental health and drug and alcohol services to Medical Assistance recipients.
The Health Choices program is funded through the state Department of Public Welfare, said Joinder Administrator Debra Duffy. The level of funding is based on the number of people enrolled in the program, she said.
In other business, the board approved the extension of a lease of the Sharwell Building, where the agency's main offices are located, with Basin Street Associates.
The lease, which was due to expire in 2014, has been extended to 2024, Duffy said.
Duffy also discussed Gov. Tom Corbett's proposed budget, which includes a 20 percent cut in funding to seven agency line items, among them mental health services, intellectual disabilities, behavioral health services and homeless assistance.
The funding is to be rolled into a single block grant that will be paid to the counties.
Duffy said she has concerns about the proposal, and not just because of the reduction in funding.
The proposal may impact federal funding, which often is tied to the amount of state funding the agency receives, she said.
The proposal also will create administrative headaches by requiring intergovernmental agreements to be drawn up for the funding to funnel through the counties to the agency, she said.
