In 1997, as part of County Commissioners Association of PA's (CCAP) intergovernmental transfer (IGT) bond issues, the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) agreed to hold ten million dollars for the creation of a program to assist counties with managed behavioral health care.

CCAP decided to utilize the ten million dollars, subject to DPW approval, to provide services through a new CCAP program called County Managed Care Resource (COMCARE). Over a period of eighteen months beginning in May of 1998, a COMCARE Study Committee met to develop a list of services and a set of bylaws. The Study Committee also contracted with a firm to assist with further development and implementation of the program.

In November of 1998, the COMCARE Study Committee surveyed the counties to gather feedback on the initial ideas and direction of the program, the draft bylaws, and overall need for the proposed program. The Study Committee's last action was to release its final proposal to the CCAP membership, MH/MR administrators and D&A administrators.

The COMCARE Bylaws were adopted in December of 1999.The COMCARE program began in 2000 with its first member, Franklin County.

Through the 2001 IGT negotiations, an additional two million dollars was dedicated to the COMCARE program.  With this additional funding, the life of the grant was extended until 12/31/07.  COMCARE continues its operations and dedication to assisting counties with the implementation of behavioral managed healthcare, HealthChoices.  Today, COMCARE continues to grow serving nearly 60 counties.