Virginia Spending More on Mental Health Services, Serving Fewer People
Virginia has increased its spending on outpatient services, case management and emergency treatment for people with mental illnesses, but it is serving fewer people, according to a Richmond Times-Dispatch analysis of community mental health care data from 1999 to 2003. The Times-Dispatch reports that time spent serving the mentally ill in "several key categories of care" has declined, while the cost of providing care has risen. Extensive paperwork, combined with the stringent requirements for Virginia residents to enroll in Medicaid, also has contributed to the decline in statewide mental health services, according to the Times-Dispatch. According to the Times-Dispatch analysis:
- The number of Virginians receiving community mental health care declined 3% from 1999 to 2003;
- Patients who elected outpatient services received an average of 46 minutes of care, down 19% in the same time frame;
- Community agencies provided patients an average of one hour and 35 minutes of case management per month, down 4% over the study period;
- The number of people needing emergency care rose 1.4% over the study period; and
- Spending on outpatient care, case management and emergency care increased about 30% over the study period.
"Those few who have high needs are now devouring a huge chunk of the system's resources, and the pot has not gotten bigger," Val Marsh, executive director of the Virginia affiliate for the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, said. Raymond Ratke, deputy commissioner of the state's Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services, said, "It's not good enough, if you just look at the service hours that are being done, but there's also the issue of is it good enough in terms of the range of services offered. We want to do better" (Ress, Richmond Times-Dispatch, 10/24). This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.
