Wednesday, February 04, 2004

Medicaid costs drive proposed $1.4 billion increase in Public Welfare budget (Pennsylvania)
AP story at NEPA News - "Gov. Ed Rendell's budget calls for an increase of about $1.3 billion in spending for the Department of Public Welfare, to pay for new programs and plug a $570 million gap caused mostly by the loss of federal Medicaid subsidies. The worsening economy is expected to add 56,000 Pennsylvanians to the Medicaid rolls during the coming fiscal year, officials said. ... 'I think it's continuing the crisis in the system,' said George J. Kimes, executive director of the Pennsylvania Community Providers Association, which represents 200 mental health, mental retardation and drug and alcohol treatment agencies."  
  

Buncombe County to see mental health care costs soar (North Carolina)
Citizen-Times story - "A new mental health care plan mandated by the state will cost Buncombe County at least $100,000 this year, and officials predict the cost could rise to $1 million within three years. The money for medications and social workers for inmates at the Buncombe County Detention Center, coupled with costs from the county Health Center, will be taken from Buncombe County's $465,000 budget for mental health care services. With the state reducing the number of available beds in health centers under the new plan, more people have turned to the county for help. And use of county facilities could continue to drive up costs..."