Photo by Deb Gau Lyon County Commissioner Charlie Sanow makes a point during the board meeting Tuesday.

MARSHALL — Lyon County will be among several southwest Minnesota counties shifting to a new plan for providing health care to low-income residents. On Tuesday, county commissioners approved a proposal to join PrimeWest Health’s county-based purchasing plan. PrimeWest would help provide services for people receiving health care through public programs.

Commissioners weren’t unanimous on their decision, however. Some voiced concerns about the potential cost of joining PrimeWest. It could cost an estimated $2 million for Lyon County to join PrimeWest, depending on how many other counties also join the consortium. That $2 million would go toward PrimeWest’s reserve fund, said Lyon County Administrator Loren Stomberg.

County commissioners got into a long discussion Tuesday about a proposal for Lyon County to go from being a member of Southern Prairie Community Care to being a member of PrimeWest Health. Lyon County was one of 12 southwest Minnesota counties forming SPCC, a regional organization working to improve public health. But earlier this year, SPCC recommended joining with PrimeWest instead. Each of the SPCC member counties have to decide individually whether they want to join the PrimeWest consortium.

Not all SPCC members have done so, speakers at Tuesday’s meeting said. Rock and Murray counties have opted not to join.

Spcc Medical Director Norris Anderson and Matt Magnuson, director of membership for PrimeWest Health, said joining PrimeWest could benefit Lyon County. Going to a county-based purchasing system would preserve local control over health care services, as well as providing transparency on where health care funds are being spent. PrimeWest helps support local health care providers through measures like better reimbursements, they said.

Magnuson said PrimeWest has also looked at addressing issues with access to health care in member counties, with the help of community reinvestment grants.

PrimeWest’s joint powers organization currently includes 13 counties around Minnesota, including Pipestone, Renville and Big Stone counties.

Commissioners had mixed reactions to the proposal. Commissioner Charlie Sanow said being part of PrimeWest could be helpful for managing Lyon County’s health and human services costs. One area of concern, Sanow said, was the state putting more of the funding burden for things like mental health services back on counties.

But other commissioners voiced uncertainties, including about the possible cost of buying in to PrimeWest.

“To me, it’s a lot of money to justify to taxpayers,” said Commissioner Gary Crowley. Crowley said he would have liked to have more discussion and information on the proposal before Tuesday.

Commissioners voted 3-2 to join PrimeWest for providing health care to people on public programs. Commissioners Crowley and Steve Ritter cast the votes against.