Mental triage money OK’d by Senate panel

Friday, May 13, 2005 | 8:18 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A bill sending $370,000 in state money to help relieve crowding in hospital emergency rooms with mentally ill patients was approved Thursday by the Senate Finance Committee.

The money would go to West Care triage center to provide the initial care for mental cases, keeping them from filling up emergency hospital beds or jail cells in Southern Nevada.

Dan Musgrove, lobbyist for Clark County, told the committee this money could cover two months costs for the care of these individuals.

He said West Care gets these persons stabilized and then refers them to community programs or to the state mental hospital. This "gives relief to the jails and the hospitals," he said.

The hospitals and the county have put up the money for the treatment so far.

Two years ago a bill called for the county, hospitals and state to share one-third each of the cost. It died.

An attempt was made in the interim to get state money from the Legislative Interim Finance Committee. The Senate side of the committee agreed but the Assembly side balked.

Assembly Bill 104, which has already passed the Assembly, will go to the Senate for final passage next week.

Musgrove told the committee that the program at West Care costs $2.7 million a year and the facility sees about 700 patients a month.

Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, said West Care keeps the people up to 72 hours and then refer them.

The state mental hospital in Las Vegas has been filled and at times could not accept patients immediately. A new 190-bed hospital is under construction.

Sen. Bob Beers, R-Las Vegas, asked if any audit has been conducted of West Care. Musgrove said the internal auditor for the county is getting ready to conduct an examination to make sure the funds are being used properly.

Leslie said there was a "gap" in the budget of Gov. Kenny Guinn to provide money in the next two years for West Care or another similar program. But she said there are two bills -- AB175 and SB405 -- that allocate $900,000 state money to the project.

Leslie said the governor however he would support adding the money to his budget.

Musgrove said Clark County is also seeking bids on the project to see if it can get a reduced price on the service.

The bill received the support from Sabra Smith-Newby, representing Las Vegas, and Robert Roshak, representing Metro Police.