Board approves $5.4M Traditions Behavioral Health contract amid calls for multi‑year stability

Lake County Behavioral Health recommended award of specialty mental‑health services, including locum tenens and telepsychiatry, to Traditions Behavioral Health for up to $5,400,000 for FY2026–27 after a competitive solicitation that yielded 14 proposals. "Under the proposed agreement, the contractor payment ranges from 35 to 50% of the applicable... DHCS billable rate and no rate exceeds 50% of the DHCS rate," Director Elise Jones said, noting that this represents a reduction from prior contract years and that the department structured rates to incentivize in‑person services.

Some supervisors expressed concerns about not yet having facility use agreements and the consequences of annual contracts for continuity of care; one supervisor said she could not support the contract without clearer facility arrangements. The board approved the contract on a 3–2 vote.