Mental Health Dept. seeks millions more

The Department of Mental Health is seeking a $7.7 million general fund budget increase and a $21.8 million special fund budget increase.

Executive Director Diana Mikula said part of the increase needed is to continue with expanding community-based mental health.

Mikula appeared last week before the House Appropriations Committee to outline the department’s budget request for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.

Mikula said the increase in the general fund is needed to replace special funds being used in this year’s budget for Medicaid matching money, restore 218 employee positions, reallocate or reclassify 562 positions, continue operations, and upgrade buildings and equipment. Most of the special fund increase would be for the Department of Mental Health to gain additional matching money from Medicaid.

Since 2008, Mental Health has had a decrease of 1,877 authorized positions, according to Mikula.

“DMH is working with 1,333 less filled positions,” Mikula said.

It is also asking lawmakers to continue with a $16.1 million appropriation to expand community-based services as part of a federal consent decree.

The U.S. Department of Justice found the state was violating federal law by institutionalizing too many mentally ill and developmentally disabled people.

Mississippi's mental health system serves those with mentally illness, intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, and alcohol and drug addictions.

House Appropriations Chairman Herb Frierson said the one thing the state doesn’t need is another Olivia Y case, referring to the federal lawsuit filed in 2004 over how the state cares for children in the foster care system.

The class action lawsuit, known as Olivia Y. v. Barbour, cited dangerously high caseloads, untrained caseworkers, a shortage of foster homes, and a widespread failure to provide basic health care services. It was originally settled in 2008, but the settlement agreement is still ongoing. A modified settlement agreement, approved in 2012, contained an action plan to address the state's consistent failure to meet court-ordered performance standards.

The state Department of Human Services is asking for an additional $12 million next budget year to continue reforms mandated by the settlement.

“No one seems to know when it will end,” Frierson said of the Olivia Y case.

The Department of Mental Health is moving toward more community-based services, Mikula said.

She said the Department of Mental Health has in place mobile crisis teams through each of the 14 community mental health centers across the state. From January through July 2014, the teams averaged 1,494 calls each month.

Also, the state now has six PACT, Programs of Assertive Community Treatment, teams and will add two others next month that will help facilitate community living, psychological rehabilitation and recovery for persons with severe and persistent mental illnesses who haven’t benefited from traditional services.

Also, she said that since the 2012 fiscal year, the home and community waiver program has added 643 slots, allowing more individuals to be served in their home. Currently 2,209 individuals are served through the waiver program.

Contact Jimmie E. Gates at jgates@jackson.gannett.com or (601) 961-7212. Follow @jgatesnews on Twitter.