By Harnett County Commissioner Matt Nicol and Harnett County Commissioner Bill Morris

In North Carolina, especially in Harnett County, we have always believed that residents in need of behavioral health and I/DD services—those who are most vulnerable—are best served by those in their community.

NC Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kody Kinsley’s unilateral decision to reassign Harnett to the Alliance Health LME-MCO is in direct opposition to this long-held value.

In September, the state legislature was debating a budget provision that would have reassigned Harnett from its existing LME-MCO, Sandhills Center. All of the commissioners approved a resolution asking the legislature that the county be allowed to remain a part of Sandhills Center, which, at that point, had announced its intent to merge with another LME-MCO, Eastpointe.

The state legislature responded. Rather than imposing a move, it provided Secretary Kinsley with the latitude to manage LME-MCO consolidation based on a few identified ground rules. Harnett reasserted its preference to remain as part of the Eastpointe-Sandhills service area.

Despite our clear preference, on November 1, Secretary Kinsley unilaterally reassigned Harnett to Alliance. The commissioners were not even notified in advance of the announcement, let alone consulted on the decision.

Why was this decision made?

Because Harnett residents close to the border tend to get behavioral healthcare services in Wake County, a part of Alliance’s service area. This conveniently ignores that our residents are just as likely to receive care in other counties Alliance doesn’t serve—a point we could have clarified, had been consulted.

The impact of this sudden, senseless decision is profound. LME-MCO leadership and staff who have been serving our communities for decades will be replaced. The care needed by our most vulnerable families is now at greater risk of interruption. Harnett’s elected leaders, and our able Health Department and DSS staff, are left to deal with these ramifications.

In North Carolina, counties are supposed to be partners in behavioral healthcare delivery, not pariahs. We long ago decided that, on this issue, people must come before politics.

We’re disappointed that Secretary Kinsley doesn’t share these values.