County Mental Health Manager ponders future

By John Vlahovich, Spokane Public Radio

Rebuffed in its request for continued state financial support, Spokane County’s mental health care management agency will see if becoming part of another, larger Regional Support Network changes its fortunes.

The Spokane Regional Support Network, or RSN – run by Spokane County’s Community Services office – manages community-based mental health and community inpatient care. Much of the money with which it pays local service providers comes via contracts with Washington’s Department of Social and Health Services.

A month ago, however, the state agency turned down the local agency’s bid for continued state mental health care funding. A protest to state officials went nowhere.

DSHS is allowing the Spokane RSN to file a second funding application next month. It would have to compete for the state contract with other interested parties, including privately owned health care managers.

But County Community Services director Christine Barada Tuesday suggested rather than competing for state funding, Spokane’s RSN might be better off merging with another of the state’s Regional Support Networks.

She says it’s possible Spokane could gain clout with DSHS by being part of a larger organization, cut its costs, and at the same time offer local mental health patients more provider options.

A regional merger would not affect the local sales tax voters approved last year. Barada says that money would continue to be spent only for mental health care in Spokane County.