Budget Deficit Threatens Medications Under Virginia’s Community Treatment Programs for People with Mental Illnesses

Because of a $5.4 million budget deficit in the fiscal year beginning July 1 and a potentially larger shortfall in the following fiscal year, a Virginia community treatment program might be unable to provide medications to low-income residents with mental illnesses, the AP/Richmond Times-Dispatch reports. The state has been shifting treatment of residents with mental illnesses from state-run hospitals to community-based programs, which provide medications and other services to individuals unable to afford treatment. Mary Ann Bergeron, executive director of the Virginia Association of Community Services Boards, which is responsible for managing community-based mental health treatment, said, "We need help. We're all very, very concerned about" the budget shortfall. She added that state officials might have to ask the General Assembly to appropriate additional money to the program. The boards are working with mental health department officials to solve the budget problems, the AP/Times-Dispatch reports. Dr. James Reinhard, the state's mental health commissioner, said that despite the program's budget shortfall, it is unlikely patients will "be cut off" from their medications, adding, "The intention is not to do anything that has an adverse clinical affect." Valerie Marsh, executive director of National Alliance for the Mentally Ill-Virginia, said the state might try to save money by prescribing less expensive medicines. Other options include asking pharmaceutical companies to provide more free drugs and enrolling all eligible individuals with mental illnesses in Medicaid. Kevin Hall, a spokesperson for Virginia Gov. Mark Warner (D), said, "Everyone who needs access to these ... meds will get them in the short term. In the long term, the agency is working with community service boards to design strategies that will hold down costs" (Baskervill, AP/Richmond Times-Dispatch, 5/22).