Department of Mental Health seeks recurring funds to close deficits, expand community care and meet DOJ Olmstead concerns

Dr. Robert Bank, interim director of the Department of Mental Health (DMH), told the Senate Finance Committee Health and Human Services Subcommittee on March 27 that the department faces rising costs and capacity pressures across its inpatient hospitals, forensic services and community programs and requested a series of recurring appropriations to stabilize operations and expand community-based care.

Bank told the committee that DMH aims to sustain the 988 call center, telepsychiatry services, inpatient hospital care and several state-mandated programs. He reported that DMH and partners answered 88% of 988 calls in January and February this year and project roughly 40,000 calls this fiscal year, with less than 1% of calls requiring EMS or law enforcement dispatch.

On mandated forensic programming, Bank said referrals have increased about 40% in five years and the wait list remains high despite a 27% increase in completed competency restorations. DMH requested…