RD436 - Report on the Commonwealth’s Utilization of State Hospitals - November 5, 2014


Executive Summary:
Item 314 B.1. of the 2014 Appropriation Act requires the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) to submit to the Governor and the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committee a review of the current configuration of services provided at the Commonwealth’s adult mental health hospitals, which considers options for consolidating and reorganizing the delivery of such state services. This review includes a programmatic assessment and fiscal impact of the long term needs for inpatient services for geriatric, adult, and forensic populations, the fiscal impact of the reduction in geriatric census on first and third party reimbursement at facilities, and the long term capital requirements of state mental health facilities. Paragraph B.2. requires DBHDS to establish a planning process to provide geriatric, adult, and forensic mental health services, both inpatient and community-based, as close to persons’ homes as possible. This planning process will produce a comprehensive plan that ensures there are quality services, both inpatient and community-based, delivered at the community level in every part of the Commonwealth. The report on the planning process is due October 1, 2015.