ROCKLAND, Maine — The Maine Department of Health and Human Services has reversed its decision to switch to a new provider of mental health services in four midcoast-area counties.
In December, DHHS had selected Sweetser to provide the services to clients in Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Knox and Waldo counties. Sweetser would have replaced Maine Behavioral Healthcare, which had provided the service in the region for more than 20 years.
Maine Behavioral complained to a DHHS appeals board and the agency invalidated the contract award to Sweetser.
Now, Sweetser has 30 days to appeal that decision to a state court.
Stephanie Hanner, communications manager for Sweetser, said her organization was disappointed and that no decision on whether to appeal had been made yet.
She pointed out that the organization already serves more than 75 communities in the state, including in the midcoast area.
Maine Behavioral Healthcare Chief Executive Officer Dennis King said, “We are, of course, pleased that the appeal panel agreed with our arguments to invalidate the decision to award the midcoast region to another provider.
“We have had over 20 years’ successful experience working in that region and we look forward to continuing our successful partnership with hospitals and other providers as we develop our care continuum,” he said.
The current contract with Maine Behavioral Health will run through June, according to King. He said he was unsure how much further the contract would be extended given the potential for an appeal. The contract that had been tentatively awarded to Sweetser was for a year.
“The ball is in their court,” King said.
Messages left with DHHS on Thursday morning were not returned.
Maine Behavioral Health has offices in Rockland and Belfast with 100 to 150 employees and 27 mobile crisis workers who meet with people either at those offices or at the hospital or their homes.
Maine Behavioral has strong ties to the hospitals in the midcoast area, including Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport and Waldo County General Hospital in Belfast. Maine Behavioral manages the psychiatric and recovery unit at Pen Bay, a service that will continue regardless of whether the Sweetser appeal is successful. Maine Behavioral is part of the MaineHealth network that includes PBMC, Waldo County and the Lincoln Health Miles Campus in Damariscotta.