Minnesota Faces ‘Growing Crisis’ in Shortage of Mental Health Facility Beds, Services
Minnesota health care officials are facing a "growing crisis" because the demand for psychiatric services is increasing at the same time that availability is dwindling, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. Mental health admissions have increased 16% since 1999, compared to a 10% growth in all other admissions. The crunch is worse for adolescents between the ages of 15 and 20, whose admissions have increased 24% since 1999, according to Minnesota Hospital and Healthcare Partnership statistics. Some doctors and advocates are concerned that those seeking mental health services may be denied care because of a lack of available beds. Dr. Eric Larson, chair of Park Nicollet Clinic's mental health department, said, "It's inconceivable that psychiatric patients with biological illnesses of their brains can't get care the same way as someone with cardiac (disease) or Parkinson's disease." But solving the problem may not be as simple as adding new beds, the Star Tribune reports, because the "economics just won't work." MHHP statistics show that the average cost of treatment for one psychiatric patient in a hospital was $1,388 in 2000, but health insurers covered an average of $678. John Frobenius, president of St. Cloud Hospital, said, "Reimbursements [for psychiatric care] are not high enough. We've reached a point where it's impossible to expand it again."
Task Force
In order to address the problem, MHHP, the Minnesota Psychiatric Society, mental health advocacy groups, health plans and hospital and state officials this summer have formed a task force. The group will address the reimbursement problem and other concerns, including a lack of outpatient services. Officials say they expect the task force will offer "concrete solutions" by the state's next legislative session, according to the Star-Tribune. David Hartford, director of behavioral services for HealthEast Care System, said, "This is like a game of musical chairs. And all of a sudden we're out of chairs" (Marcotty, Minneapolis Star Tribune, 8/12).
