Riverwood Center CEO Ric Compton is sounding the alarm about some upcoming changes to how the state manages behavioral health services.

Compton addressed the Berrien County Board of Commissioners on Thursday regarding a plan from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to move services provided by prepaid inpatient health plans, or PIHPs, to private health insurers.

Compton said while Riverwood directly provides mental and behavioral health services, it also pays around 200 other organizations around the community to provide care to patients. If the duties of the existing PIHPs are shifted to private health companies like Blue Cross or Priority, he said local control and local services will be lost.

“Right now we have many, many mom and pop providers who do residential services for us, who literally call us and say, ‘Can we come in and get your check?’ That’s not gonna happen anymore,” Compton said. “We provide authorizations for them. They can call us and say, ‘We didn’t get everything authorized.’ Now they’re going to have a 1-800 number out of Lansing or Detroit or something.”

This would take effect in October of 2026. Compton said at that time, Southwest Michigan Behavioral Health will essentially cease to exist. He asked commissioners to talk with state lawmakers, who he said can make a difference.

“You know, if this is October 1 of 2026, the next month is an election. And to have people with intellectual developmental disabilities not getting services would not be a good look.”

Compton said these changes will reduce the quality of care for patients and make it harder for smaller organizations that provide care to get paid. He believes the state is pursuing the change just because it would simply be easier for it to manage.

Board of Commissioners Chair Mac Elliott said this is “a dumb plan” and expressed hope the governor will step in and change it.