Monday, February 23, 2004

Cuts hit mental health providers (Utah)
Deseret News story - "Mental health centers across the state are scrambling to deal with a Medicaid budget shortfall of at least $3.2 million — a decrease that could leave at least 1,500 people untreated. Advocates for the mentally ill predict that many of those people will wind up in jail or will turn to hospital emergency rooms during a crisis. ... Valley Mental Health, the state's largest contract provider of mental health services, will see its funding decrease under new federal payment guidelines by a minimum of $1.6 million by the end of this fiscal year, June 30, As a result, 813 'indigent' and non-Medicaid eligible patients are being cut off from services. The decrease is a result of a federal rate change imposed last year by the Federal Balanced Budget Act, which changed the formula for how mental health centers are reimbursed with Medicaid dollars."