Commissioners join quest to restore mental health funding
By CLEON RICKEL, Herald Senior Writer
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Local mental health leaders have enlisted county commissioners in a legislative fight to restore funding for community mental health programs.
Because of federal and state changes in the way mental health services are paid, community mental health centers could face another financial crisis this year, Diane Drake, executive director the Elizabeth Layton Center for Hope and Guidance in Ottawa, told commissioners Wednesday.
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ budget for the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services proposed more cuts for community mental health services, Drake said.
A group of legislators is trying to restore those cuts, she said.
“Community mental health (funding) is a small part of the SRS budget but it’s an important part of community mental services,” Drake said.
The legislative fight mirrors a similar fight last year, when legislators restored some of the cuts proposed by Sebelius.
Under new federal rules, Medicaid payments can only be used for clients on Medicaid, and can’t be used for others who can’t pay for services, Drake said.
In Franklin County, where a sizable number of clients are poor and can’t afford mental health services but aren’t on Medicaid, that rule will have a significant impact, she said.
“There will be more burden on law enforcement, more suicides, more cases of domestic abuse,” Drake said.
She asked the commissioners to contact legislators on the center’s behalf.
Commissioner Ed Taylor told her he had already contacted Rep. Bill Feuerborn.
“He’s said he’s working to restore funding,” Taylor said.
Commissioners also approved a contract with the Layton Center to provide the county’s community mental health services.
Like all other counties, Franklin County has a mill levy for mental health. The county contracts with the Layton Center to provide mental health services.
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