'Just sucks': Columbia River Mental Health out of cash
VANCOUVER, Wash. (KOIN) -- Officials with the Columbia River Mental Health Services furloughed some employees and told thousands of patients they're pausing several key services across Clark County over a lack of money.
Leaders of CRMHS told their employees by email they don't have enough money to continue operating. However, the facilities -- for the moment -- are temporarily closed.
"The cause of this circumstance is an evolving shortfall of monthly cash flow against clinic expenses, coupled to inability to access equity in the organization’s real estate holdings in the timeline necessary to meet current obligations," Chief Medical Officer Kevin Fischer wrote in the email, obtained by KOIN 6 News. "(The painful irony is that the agency has the resources – but just can’t convert building equity to cash quickly enough in the current environment)"
Fischer also told staff the pause could have a major impact on local hospitals and that recovering addicts could relapse without their treatment.
In a notice posted on their website, they told their clients in Vancouver, Hazel Dell and Battle Ground there is "an immediate pause of our Adult Outpatient, Child Outpatient, Health Homes, Psychiatry, GAP Medicine and Case Management programs."
At the NorthStar Clinic in Vancouver, many patients go for methadone treatment as they work to recover from substance abuse.
Stephen Jones, who told KOIN 6 News he's been sober off-and-on for the last 10 months, said this is really terrible news for him.
"It just sucks because, you know, without the medication, you know, we're going to have to go buy something else from somewhere else," Jones said. "And I don't really want to do that. I'm trying to, you know, my life is just getting back together and stuff. So I'm not trying to, like, go do illicit drugs."
CRMHS has a list of resources on their site for clients who still need critical care. But they also told their outpatient clients they "have two options moving forward:
"Wait for Care: We will notify you as soon as we have a clear timeline for reopening.
Coordinate Care Immediately: If you feel you need therapy, psychiatric services, or case management sooner, we are happy to assist you in coordinating care with other providers to ensure there is no gap in your treatment."
The CRMHS board met late Monday and it appears the NorthStar site will stay open for now.
KOIN 6 News will continue to follow this story.