More mental health providers promised

The company that manages state-funded mental health services in Yuma says ending a contract with the Excel Group and bringing more providers to town will give clients access to more choices.

Cenpatico announced its decision this week to not renew its contract with Excel, which will lose 75 percent of its funding or about $14 million annually. Excel is currently a leading mental health provider in town, serving about 3,000 clients.

"We will be adding other providers that provide these types of services to the community so that consumers continue to have choices," said Terry Stevens, chief executive officer for Cenpatico Behavioral Health of Arizona.

Excel once managed state funding for this area's mental health services, but lost its contract with the state to Cenpatico in 2005.

Excel leaders say they will continue to serve their remaining contracts, plus attempt to secure more contracts.

Funding from Excel's current contract will continue through Jan. 4, 2010, and leaders from both sides stress that services will not be affected.

Stevens pledged to see that the transition between providers is "handled with the greatest of care."

"I want to make sure folks in the community know services will be there. My hope is that this will be totally seamless to (clients)," the Cenpatico leader said Friday. "I am a clinical person by background. It is very important to me that people get the best care and aren't affected by business decisions, but what is best for them."

Horizon Human Services is one company that will likely take over more services once provided by Excel.

"We have a long-standing relationship with Horizon in other areas in the state, and we wanted to bring an additional choice for persons with serious mental illness to have another option in the Yuma area," Stevens told the Yuma Sun earlier this week during an interview announcing the contract change.

But while Cenpatico and Excel leaders agree that their contract will be ending, the two groups still plan to meet for contact negotiations next week. Excel's Carol Carr has called Cenpatico's decision "premature" and has said she thinks a chance remains for the contract to be restored.

Stevens declined to say Friday if Cenpatico's decision to end Excel's contract could change. She instead said: "Today, that is our position."

The Cenpatico leader, in explaining the decision to break with Excel, pointed to a difference in philosophy offered by alternative providers.

"These are providers that are more in line with our vision for folks with serious mental illness and have recovery (philosophy) that is most closer to the vision of Cenpatico. Our mission statement is 'Together we inspire hope for a better life.' It's extremely important to have hope if you are going to recover."

Mel Logue, contracts manager for Horizon, said her organization offers services that are less traditional than others.

"What's normally offered is disability-defined treatment. Ours is ability defined."

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Darin Fenger can be reached at
dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.