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Kansas mental health system inadequate, panel finds, jeopardizing patients and the public

Kansas City Star (MO) - 7/28/2015

July 28--A special task force has concluded Kansas provides inadequate treatment for the state's mentally ill, increasing the dangers for patients and the public.

In a report finalized last week, the Adult Continuum of Care Committee said the state's two acute care psychiatric hospitals in Larned and Osawatomie lack sufficient bed space to treat those who need help, and that smaller mental health facilities are underfunded and overworked.

"An inadequate safety net jeopardizes the well-being of those individuals, puts communities at risk, and places an undue burden on local resources, including law enforcement," the committee found.

The finding, and the committee's recommendations, may increase pressure on Gov. Sam Brownback and the state legislature to increase funding for mental health facilities in the state. Kansas spends roughly $100 million to operate the acute care hospitals.

But the aging facilities are usually at capacity -- or beyond. State officials began a policy of aggressive patient triage earlier this year when Osawatomie State Hospital exceeded its 206-bed capacity by 25 percent. Voluntary admissions to the facility were stopped.

The hospital's capacity was further reduced this summer as the state began a construction project at the hospital. Osawatomie is now limited to 146 beds.

"Due to the limited capacity at the state hospitals and lack of resources in the communities, there has been increasing pressure to discharge patients quickly to make room for more," the committee said. "Compounding this issue is a continuing challenge with staffing levels due to staff turnover, staff burnout and fatigue."

The report comes as the state investigates Osawatomie's decision-making in the case of Brandon Brown, a patient at the facility in May. He was released after a week of treatment and returned to Haviland, Kan., where he allegedly beat a person to death three days later.

Brown's father believes his son was released from Osawatomie too early.

The committee report also comes as Brownback ponders an additional $50 million in cuts to the state's budget. Those reductions are expected to be announced this week, and may include mental health funding.

The report does not say how much more money Kansas should spend on mental health treatment. It says "any reduction of beds, of any number, is not recommended," and that Osawatomie should be returned to full capacity as quickly as possible.

"The determining factors cannot solely be financial," the report says. "The risk is too great."

The group also recommended expansion of Medicaid coverage in Kansas. Lawmakers have resisted that expansion, claiming it costs too much money.

Committee members included mental health professionals, state lawmakers, law enforcement personnel, judges and officials from the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, known as KDADS. The agency oversees mental health treatment in the state.

The group also recommended increased support for lower-level, community-based mental health treatment facilities. Community-based mental health centers have seen their state funding for treating the uninsured cut in half since 2007, the report notes.

"An underfunded system is challenged to meet the basic needs of people with severe mental illness, let alone develop evidenced based practices, enhance existing services, or create needed alternatives of care," the study says.

The recommendations have been sent to KDADS secretary Kari Bruffett.

To reach Dave Helling, call 816-234-4656 or send email to dhelling@kcstar.com.

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