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Local mental health professionals are praying for the best, but preparing for the worst if Governor Sam Brownback’s proposed cuts to mental health funding are enacted.
Brownback’s proposed 2011 budget will eliminate $10.2 million in funding to nearly 24 licensed mental health care providers, leaving an estimated 70,000 patients out in the proverbial cold.
“If the governor's budget is approved as proposed, which we hope is highly unlikely, Prairie View would lose approximately $915,000 in state funding,” said Prairie View President Jessie Kaye. “This is in addition to the nearly $1.5 million we have experienced in reductions in state funding over the past three years.”
Prairie View serves 1,800 patients in McPherson County, 670 of which are receiving Medicaid. Added to that are another 350 patients who are not Medicaid eligible and still cannot afford services.
“As the licensed CMHC for our three counties, Prairie View has a statutory requirement to provide certain interventions and services for our citizens, regardless of their ability to pay. This state mandate is the basis for our state funding,” Kaye said. “As the level of funding continues to decrease, our ability to meet this demand is severely compromised.”
Many professionals believe that short-term cuts in mental health services will lead to long-term costs, as many who utilize outpatient services may face hospitalization.
“It’s really a shortsighted position. It’s going to cost the state more,” said Beverly Martin, a local member of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) and Psychiatric Nurse-Practitioner. “(These cuts) are shortsighted by limiting community mental health services because people end up in hospitals that cost the state much more.”
The cuts will also affect those providing services to the mentally retarded.
“There’s going to be an impact. We have over 200 consumers in McPherson County,” said Teri Kresa, Executive Director of the McPherson County Community Developmental Disability Organization (CDDO). “We’re so underfunded now, it’s pitiful. Last year I lost 13 families (due to cuts). If they come in and start cutting, I don’t know what we’re going to do.”
Both Prairie View and CDDO emphasized that no matter the cuts, they will continue to provide services, and the level of care would not decline. However, there is concern about being able to meet any new needs if resources are strained to the breaking point.
“As the level of funding continues to decrease, our ability to meet this demand is severely compromised. Mental health services in emergency and crisis situations is part of maintaining the public safety net - as essential as fire, law enforcement and ambulance services,” Kaye said. “Providing needed community-based treatment for those who suffer from chronic mental illnesses is a means of reducing their health care expenses and avoiding the higher costs of more restrictive levels of care such as hospitalization, institutionalization or incarceration.”
Local mental health professionals are praying for the best, but preparing for the worst if Governor Sam Brownback’s proposed cuts to mental health funding are enacted.
Brownback’s proposed 2011 budget will eliminate $10.2 million in funding to nearly 24 licensed mental health care providers, leaving an estimated 70,000 patients out in the proverbial cold.
“If the governor's budget is approved as proposed, which we hope is highly unlikely, Prairie View would lose approximately $915,000 in state funding,” said Prairie View President Jessie Kaye. “This is in addition to the nearly $1.5 million we have experienced in reductions in state funding over the past three years.”
Prairie View serves 1,800 patients in McPherson County, 670 of which are receiving Medicaid. Added to that are another 350 patients who are not Medicaid eligible and still cannot afford services.
“As the licensed CMHC for our three counties, Prairie View has a statutory requirement to provide certain interventions and services for our citizens, regardless of their ability to pay. This state mandate is the basis for our state funding,” Kaye said. “As the level of funding continues to decrease, our ability to meet this demand is severely compromised.”
Many professionals believe that short-term cuts in mental health services will lead to long-term costs, as many who utilize outpatient services may face hospitalization.
“It’s really a shortsighted position. It’s going to cost the state more,” said Beverly Martin, a local member of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) and Psychiatric Nurse-Practitioner. “(These cuts) are shortsighted by limiting community mental health services because people end up in hospitals that cost the state much more.”
The cuts will also affect those providing services to the mentally retarded.
“There’s going to be an impact. We have over 200 consumers in McPherson County,” said Teri Kresa, Executive Director of the McPherson County Community Developmental Disability Organization (CDDO). “We’re so underfunded now, it’s pitiful. Last year I lost 13 families (due to cuts). If they come in and start cutting, I don’t know what we’re going to do.”
Both Prairie View and CDDO emphasized that no matter the cuts, they will continue to provide services, and the level of care would not decline. However, there is concern about being able to meet any new needs if resources are strained to the breaking point.
“As the level of funding continues to decrease, our ability to meet this demand is severely compromised. Mental health services in emergency and crisis situations is part of maintaining the public safety net - as essential as fire, law enforcement and ambulance services,” Kaye said. “Providing needed community-based treatment for those who suffer from chronic mental illnesses is a means of reducing their health care expenses and avoiding the higher costs of more restrictive levels of care such as hospitalization, institutionalization or incarceration.”
