The county commissioners are opposing one “eleventh hour” state bill and supporting another that would delay a piece of hastily created legislation.

Leslie Osche, commissioners chairwoman, said at the Wednesday commissioners meeting that she is gathering a group of officials, including police chiefs, and traveling to Harrisburg to oppose House Bill 335.

“This would set us back 25 years if this goes forward,” Osche said.

The bill, which will be proposed by state Rep. Seth Grove, R-York County, touts integrating behavioral and physical health services in the Medicaid program.

But Osche said the bill would destroy the successful managed-care model for behavioral health that was built over decades through collaboration between several counties in southwestern Pennsylvania.

She said Butler County saved money when it moved to the current model several years ago, and that savings continue to allow the county to invest in community service programs, such as the Veteran's Administration inpatient treatment, opioid recovery and working with law enforcement on intervention for mental health issues.

“There is a major movement among counties across the state against this,” Osche said.

Commissioner Kevin Boozel said many systems that are in place to support the community's vulnerable residents would collapse if the proposed bill passes in Harrisburg.

The commissioners also voiced their support of Senate Bill 390 proposed by state Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Wyoming, Wayne, Pike and Luzerne counties.

Osche said Baker's bill would delay 11th-hour state legislation that would revamp the medical assistance transportation system, which is now handled by counties and regions, to utilize a statewide or regional broker.

Osche said Butler County rides are now shared with other agencies, and the new system would prohibit that.

“When you separate these, it makes the financial model nonfunctional because you can't combine services,” Osche said.

Boozel said he was concerned about patients getting to appointments, treatments and therapy in the new model.

Commissioner Kim Geyer said the proposed legislation usurps local control, which is the opposite of the normal mandates handed down to counties from Harrisburg.

“It's unusual that the state wants to take the control back and say they can do it better than the local government can,” Geyer said.

Boozel worries that the 50 new legislators in Harrisburg will only see the $15 million savings the proposed bill touts.

“They don't understand the ramifications,” he said.

Osche said Harrisburg should encourage collaboration in the various regions in the state for medical assistance transportation, instead of “yanking it out of local control.”

All three commissioners voted to oppose House Bill 335 and support Senate Bill 390.