ERIE — Citing concern over executive salaries, Neosho County commissioners declined to provide a letter of support for the Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center at their Aug. 12 meeting. The Chanute Tribune first reported the news.
Jen Taylor, a grant and program coordinator for SEKMHC, and Doug Wright, Chief Operating Officer for SEKMHC, had asked commissioners for their support in their Health Resources and Services Administration application to become a Health Center Program Look-Alike.
SEKMHC is currently applying for the designation for their Ashley Clinic locations in Woodson and Neosho County, along with their Yates Center Dental location.
“Well, I do have concerns, if you’ve not listened to other county commissioners,” said Commissioner Nicholas Galemore. “We have concerns as a board that we’re using tax dollars to fund a nonprofit where some of the salaries are about 20 times that of an average citizen of Neosho County.”
In 2023, SEKMHC’s top four officers received a total of $1.2 million in salary and $500,000 in benefits. Wright’s 2023 salary and benefits surpassed $444,000, according to the organization’s IRS Form 990. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau lists the median household income in Neosho County at around $55,700.
Galemore said, “I cannot write that letter. I understand the services, but I cannot lend my support behind it.”
Commissioner Gail Klaassen followed. “I appreciate the investment that SEKMHC has made in Neosho County,” she said. “They are the only mental health provider we have. It’s not that we don’t support your efforts, but it’s just a concern on the executive pay.”
Commissioner Paul Westoff’s only remarks during the discussion were to say, “I’m with you, Nick.” Without a motion, Taylor’s request for a letter of support went nowhere.
THE LOOK-ALIKE designation is one granted by the Health Resources & Services Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
In essence, a Look-Alike (yes, that’s a technical federal term) provides all the primary care services a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) does. Look-Alikes, however, are not awarded federal grant dollars, and the designation does not come from a competitive process.
About a year ago, SEKMHC applied to become a FQHC. But when Congress passed a continuing resolution to fund the federal government, those grants were never funded by Congress and went unawarded.
Lesson learned, SEKMHC opted this year to instead pursue the Look-Alike designation. The application process, which lasts between 8-12 months, is not competitive. It is, however, needs-based, taking into account existing health services. There are no FQHCs with clinic locations in Neosho or Woodson counties.
If granted, the look-alike designation would allow SEKMHC to access the 340B Drug Pricing Program, letting them purchase prescription drugs at discounted prices. SEKMHC would also be able to provide free vaccines for children with no or substandard insurance and access cost-based care for services, among other benefits.
SEKMHC would not receive any federal grant dollars, and the Look-Alike designation would only apply to the three locations in the application, not SEKMHC as a whole.
TAYLOR AND WRIGHT approached the commission because the Look-Alike application requires they reach out to health care organizations in the service area.
Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center, based in Chanute, and the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department, which has a location in Yates Center, both provided letters of support.
