More money to be pumped into mental health programs

Thursday, May 17, 2001 | 9:32 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The Legislature is pumping big money increases into Nevada's mental health programs for the next two years to allow the treatment of more patients.

The current budget of $116.9 million for this fiscal year rises to $136.7 million next fiscal year, an increase of 16.9 percent. It will rise to $146.9 million the following year, an increase of 7.4 percent.

Gov. Kenny Guinn made mental health one of the priorities of his budget, and the Legislature added more money, partly by using more federal funds.

Carlos Brandenburg, administrator of the state Division of Mental Health and Developmental Services, said this would help move or keep patients out of hospitals and allow them to live in the community either in their own homes or in group facilities.

This new budget comes on top of a 17 percent increase two years ago.

The Senate Finance Committee Wednesday approved the budget, which he Assembly Ways and Means Committee had previously passed.

The budget gives enough money to the Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services so it can place an additional 86 clients into the community. It also increases the budget for drugs from $6 million to $8.9 million next year and $10.9 million in 2003.

"One of the things we have shown is that with the newer and safer medications, we have been able to improve our client quality of life," Brandenburg said. "Now they don't have the toxic reaction they had with the old medication.

"Now the clients are saying, 'I don't want to be in a group home, I want to be in my own apartment,' " the administrator said.

"This governor and this Legislature has seen the need for community based services," Brandenburg said.

The three regional developmental centers for the mentally retarded were also given increased money to take care of people waiting for services. Guinn's budget raised the appropriations for the three centers by 13.2 percent next fiscal year and an additional 7.7 percent the following year.

The budget will be able to serve an additional 654 patients during the coming two years. And six clients from the Desert Developmental Center in Las Vegas will be moved into the community.