Tuesday, April 05, 2005

Congress May Order Major Medicaid Review  Psychiatric News story - "In response to President Bush's proposed budget cuts to Medicaid, legislation was introduced in Congress calling for the creation of a bipartisan commission to review the Medicaid program. APA is backing legislation in Congress that would establish a bipartisan Medicaid commission to conduct a comprehensive review of the nation's largest public health care program. Medicaid, which is funded through federal matching grants to states, in combination with state-provided funds, serves more than 50 million low-income individuals, including people with disabilities, according to the February 8 Congressional Record. ... There is considerable bipartisan support in Congress for the legislation. It was introduced by Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) and Rep. Heather Wilson (R-N.M.) in February, and by mid-March there were 97 cosponsors in the House and 26 cosponsors in the Senate."  
  

Govt. Decision Threatens Key CMHC Funding Source (Washington) Psychiatric News story - "Thousands of patients treated at Washington state's community mental health centers could lose services because of a more restrictive federal interpretation of Medicaid law. Advocates charge that the federal government is reneging on a deal to allow the use of savings captured through managed care to be applied to mental health services for people who are not eligible for Medicaid. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) notified Washington state officials that beginning January 1, 2005, the state's Regional Support Networks (RSNs) could no longer use unspent funds for individuals who are not eligible for Medicaid. Counties and their nongovernmental providers are organized into 14 RSNs that provide community-based treatment. Implementation of the ruling would mean a reduction of $82 million, or approximately 20 percent, in the state's community mental health care budget..."  
  

Patient surge raises county spending for mental health (Iowa) Des Moines Register story - "A backlog caused by state budget cuts will force Polk County to spend $1.9 million this year on mental health care for new patients. The county, on average, takes on between 30 and 50 new patients who need long-term care. The figure stands at 176 for this budget year, which ends June 30. 'We're seeing an explosion,' said Lynn Ferrell, director of the county's health services department. Ferrell said that in addition to a growing population, the numbers are driven by patients who had waited to get into the system. More than 400 patients were put on a yearlong waiting list in 2003 because of a shortage of state money."  
  

Longtime mental health chief to step down July 1 (New Jersey) New Jersey Ledger story - "Alan Kaufman, the state's mental health chief for 17 years, announced his retirement yesterday at a time when the state has made mental health care a fiscal and social priority. Kaufman, director of the Division of Mental Health since 1987, said in an e-mail that he would leave July 1. His departure comes as acting Gov. Richard Codey's Mental Health Task Force recommended eliminating Kaufman's post, to be replaced by a higher-ranking assistant commissioner. Codey, a longtime watchdog of the mental health system and frequent critic of its bureaucracy, conceded he was not Kaufman's strongest backer. Kaufman has been conspicuously absent from many of Codey's major mental health policy announcements..."  
  

Mental health, Medicaid cuts: What impact will these cuts have here? (Missouri) Daily American Republic story - "Developmentally disabled residents in the Poplar Bluff area, their families and state workers who provide them with services are very concerned about how they will be impacted by proposed state budget cuts for the Missouri Department of Mental Health and the Medicaid Program. Gov. Matt Blunt recommended $41 million be slashed from the Missouri Department of Mental Health budget for community treatment and rehabilitation services. These cuts also would result in the loss of $44 million in federal funds. ... A vote in the Missouri Senate is still pending. While the total impact may not be known until the Missouri Legislature adjourns on May 13, budget cuts are expected to result in the privatization of four Individualized Supported Living homes in Poplar Bluff. Twenty-five state employees would be affected."  
  

Mental-health bill advances in House (West Virginia) West Virginia Gazette story - "A bill designed to require treatment for 'revolving-door' mental patients passed a major hurdle in the House of Delegates on Monday. The House Judiciary Committee unanimously approved an amended version of the bill (SB191), which already passed the Senate and now goes to the entire House of Delegates for consideration. Last year, the committee failed to recommend the bill. The bill affects people who have been committed two times in the last 24 months to the state psychiatric hospital."  
  

Agency urges state to keep Rusk, Lufkin mental health facilities open (Texas) Longview News-Journal story - "A state agency has recommended that neither Lufkin State School nor Rusk State Hospital be closed to save money. In a report to lawmakers, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission suggested that all state schools for people with mental retardation, as well as all of the state's psychiatric hospitals, should remain open. The study found that while closing a state school or hospital is feasible, doing so won't result in any short-term savings and would harm client services. Closure would not save state money for at least five years – 20 years in some cases – according to the report. "