SUN EDITORIAL:

Gibbons’ skewed priorities

Privatizing mental health services would shortchange Nevadans who need help

Sun, Jun 8, 2008 (2:08 a.m.)

In an effort to pare funding for state services even more, Gov. Jim Gibbons says he is considering hiring a private company to administer part or maybe all of Nevada’s mental health services.

The Las Vegas Sun reported Tuesday that Gibbons and Mike Willden, director of Nevada’s Health and Human Services Department, said they have met with private contractors to explore the possibility.

Willden told members of the state Commission on Mental Health and Developmental Services last week that all options must be considered as the state struggles with a 14 percent budget cut.

Carlos Brandenburg, former administrator of the state Mental Health and Developmental Services Division, told Sun reporter Cy Ryan that those who support privatization say companies typically operate without the bureaucracy of government and can “make decisions more rapidly to assign the necessary resources where the greatest needs occur.”

Gretchen Greiner, chairwoman of the Nevada mental health commission, said allowing a private company to take over the system likely would result in fewer mental health services in rural areas — where a gap in such services already exists.

Greiner also said Nevada already is running short on money, so it seems unlikely the state could garner enough funding to lure private interests.

Commissioner Eric C. Albers added: “We’re lean already. How are we going to become much leaner?”

The whole notion of privatizing the state’s mental health system is a terrible one that Gibbons has been pushing since last year.

His failure to recognize the needs of a growing state, his pledge of no new taxes and his twisted priorities have left Nevada’s social services in the lurch.

Private companies are in business to make a profit, and it would be naive to think a corporation would provide the necessary resources for mental health services if that meant cutting the company’s bottom line. A similar experiment with the state women’s prison a few years ago was a stunning failure because the company was unable to provide adequate medical care, among other things.

The bottom line is that state government should not be outsourcing its responsibility to provide vital services to its residents.

Discussion: 4 comments so far…

By jfnance32

6/8/08 at 6:52 a.m.

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I have been involved with privatization of government agencies. The result is lower cost and improved productivity.

Government employees get golden fringe benefits like 80% of salary for retirement.

On top of that, the government has very little motivation to be productive.
By JohnF

6/8/08 at 9:13 a.m.

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jfnance32,

Sounds good, except for the fact that private contractors are responsible to their shareholders, not the taxpayers. That represents a fundamental conflict of interest that will never be decided in favor of the general public.
By Johnathan_Abbinett

6/8/08 at 11:32 a.m.

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There's a middle-ground compromise solution, but first we need a paradigm shift in societal view of mental health. That being, that there really are people, far less fortunate than most of us, who legitimately do need help with mental health - and, like it or not, we all should adopt the view that we are the keepers of our brothers and sisters (or, cousins if you wish)!

Nevada can no more take care of all those in need than the VA can handle all the returning veterans - so, what to do?

Recognize the scale and scope of the problem and stop playing politics and piece mealing the damn problem - continuing to do so serves fewer in need and cost more in the long run!

A reformation is needed, and the Federal and State authorities should maintain a vigilant oversight to minimize waste, fraud and abuse - but, then, we should authorize any and all of the legitimate mental health providers to take in as many patients as possible and send the bill up through the City, County, State and the Federal goverment pays the bill - simple!

Who's going to pay for it? All of us of course!

While the Democrats will attempt to return to the days of a balanced budget - some of the bill will get paid. While the Republicans continue to pledge "no new taxes" the debt will pass to our children and grand-children. But, at least, we will be moving forward in taking care of the least amongst us who need care. With the proper therapies many will be able to become productive citizens, paying taxes, going into debt and not running up other expenses - it's the only win / win solution.

What is really insane are the power players that think doing the same thing, over and over, will produce a different result!
By ayetee

6/9/08 at 10:16 a.m.

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Most don't care. Of those who claim they do, one side takes shots at the state workers and say they're lazy and inefficient. The other side feels the private corporations are blood-sucking profiteers. All want to have their cake and eat it too. At the mean time, our less fotunate are hung out to dry. No wonder we end up with the kind of governor that we have.