County Urges Crisis Center to Diversify Funding
Santa Fe County officials told New Mexico Solutions to broaden revenue and pursue more Medicaid money for La Sala Crisis Triage Center.
Updated on Nov. 15, 2026 in Healthcare
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Santa Fe County officials encouraged New Mexico Solutions, an Albuquerque-based behavioral health provider, to diversify its revenue streams and pursue additional Medicaid funding for La Sala Crisis Triage Center. County Manager Greg Shaffer's November 6 email to the provider's leaders, later provided to The New Mexican, said providers should not primarily rely on County tax revenue in the long run.
Why it matters
La Sala is the region's only behavioral health crisis triage center, serving people with acute depression, anxiety and other conditions in Santa Fe. County staff believe reliance on County tax revenue may not prove sustainable, making the facility's long-term funding a question for local residents who depend on it.
The only figure in the record is the November 6 date of the County Manager's email, with no dollar amounts for County funding or Medicaid reimbursement reported. Whether the facility's current budget depends heavily on County tax revenue has not been quantified in the source.
The players
New Mexico Solutions
New Mexico Solutions is an Albuquerque-based behavioral health provider that operates La Sala Crisis Triage Center in Santa Fe.
Greg Shaffer
Greg Shaffer is the Santa Fe County Manager responsible for overseeing county government operations and finances.
The details
County Manager Greg Shaffer wrote the email to New Mexico Solutions leaders, stating that local governments must provide core public services for which there are no sustainable alternative revenue sources. The message encouraged the provider to diversify and pursue more Medicaid support rather than depend primarily on County dollars.
Timeline
November 6, 2026: County Manager Greg Shaffer sends the email to New Mexico Solutions leaders.
November 15, 2026: The New Mexican publishes its article on the email.
Healthcare Funding Shift
The County's request that La Sala pursue more Medicaid money reflects a broader pattern in New Mexico in which local governments look to federal-state health financing to sustain behavioral health services. The email frames this as a matter of long-term sustainability rather than a one-time funding gap.
Residents who rely on La Sala for acute mental health crises could see changes to the facility's operations depending on how its funding mix evolves. The County's push toward Medicaid billing may affect how services are reimbursed and who can access them.
The takeaway
Local crisis services increasingly depend on Medicaid and diversified revenue rather than county tax dollars alone. Readers tracking La Sala should watch for further County or provider announcements on funding changes.
Further reading
For related coverage, see Healthcare news from across the region.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Santa Fe New Mexican.
Live Poll
Should county tax dollars continue funding local mental health crisis services?
