Increases approved for mental health

Monday, April 28, 2003 | 11 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A $28.5 million increase in spending for mental health care in Southern Nevada was approved today by a Senate-Assembly budget subcommittee, including starting a mobile crisis unit to handle emergency room patients.

Sen. Ray Rawson, R-Las Vegas, said this crisis unit was "essential" to Southern Nevada where patients with mental problems stack up in the emergency rooms, forcing hospitals to divert other patients to other hospitals.

The overall proposed budget for the Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services is $110 million for the next two years, calling for more beds and more community treatment programs.

The subcommittee also approved a 7 percent rate increase starting in January for community training centers such as Opportunity Village in Las Vegas and for Supportive Living Arrangements.

There would be an 8 percent increase the following fiscal years. These are programs that help mentally retarded in their training and getting them back into the community.

State Human Resources Director Mike Willden said an interim study showed they were entitled to 35 percent increased rates but the state is able to afford only a 15 percent jump.

The present budget of the Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services goes from $42.3 million to $52 million next fiscal year and $57.9 million the following year.

It calls for adding seven new positions to double the program for Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) for another 72 patients who receive intense therapy outside the hospital.

The budget also increases the observation beds at the mental health hospital from 10 to 26. Two years ago the hospital was funded for 78 acute care beds and ten observation beds. This will cost an additional $3.3 million during the biennium.