Summit County has extended its contract with the University of Utah’s Huntsman Mental Health Institute for six months, despite anticipated increases in service costs. The decision, unanimously approved by county councilmembers on June 12, aims to ensure continuous behavioral health care while a longer-term agreement is negotiated.
Since 2019, the Huntsman Mental Health Institute has provided mental health and substance abuse treatment in Summit County. The current contract, set to expire at the end of this month, will now continue with higher costs. County Manager Shayne Scott highlighted the challenge of balancing the need for quality services with financial constraints. “The cost of this service, the service we want to provide to our community, is expensive—it’s going to cost more than what we’ve been paying,” Scott said on KPCW’s Local News Hour.
Previously, Summit County paid $300,000 annually for Huntsman’s services, equating to $25,000 per month. However, the new agreement will see costs double to $50,000 per month for the first three months of the extension, and then triple to $75,000 per month for October, November, and December. This price hike may be avoided if a new contract is finalized early.
Council Chair Malena Stevens and Councilmember Roger Armstrong have been leading the subcommittee negotiating the new terms. The council’s recent vote ensures that behavioral health services will continue uninterrupted, although the county will take over services for Summit County schools during this period.
Summit County Behavioral Health Director Aaron Newman expressed hope for an early resolution. “Once a new contractual arrangement is reached, in whatever form that may take, then we would be able to approach [University of Utah Behavioral Health] to negotiate an early termination of this agreement,” Newman told the council.
The extension of Huntsman’s services is particularly vital for the county’s drug court, which offers rehabilitative programs for offenders with substance abuse issues. Council Chair Stevens emphasized the importance of this support, noting that approximately 4,000 people currently utilize the county’s Medicaid and state-funded behavioral health system.
The University of Utah also operates a behavioral health clinic in Park City’s Prospector neighborhood, further contributing to local mental health support. Scott expressed optimism about the future contract, even if it comes at a higher cost, noting that outsourcing to Huntsman remains more economical than providing all services in-house, which could cost the county millions.
As negotiations continue, Summit County remains committed to ensuring access to essential behavioral health services for its residents.
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