It’s been a rollercoaster month for MeckLINK. That’s the county mental health service agency, which has been preparing for two years and hired nearly 150 workers to take over more than $200 million in Medicaid funds for mental health, substance abuse, and disability services. Since December 31st, MeckLINK has lost the job--when the state found it would not be ready to take over--appealed that decision, lost the appeal, threatened to sue, and then negotiated an extension to prove it can be ready by March 1st.
County Manager Harry Jones told the commissioners yesterday that a state consulting company found MeckLINK is on track.
“That means there’s a high probability that we’ll be ready to go live on March 1st, so that’s very encouraging news for MeckLINK, and the providers, and the 155,000 consumers who use our services here in Mecklenburg County,” Jones said.
The review is the first of two tests the county has to pass to retain control of the funds. The consultants will come back for another review on February 13.
