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Officials report accreditation gains, rising civil-commitment costs and waitlists at state psychiatric hospitals
Summary
Department officials told the joint committee that all three state hospitals are accredited, billing for Medicaid is beginning to generate receipts, but civil-commitment and restoration-to-competency cases have grown and are increasing costs and bed demand.
Lawmakers heard Friday that all three state psychiatric hospitals in Idaho have received accreditation and that Medicaid billing has begun to generate receipts, but increased civil-commitment and restoration-to-competency caseloads are raising costs and pushing patients onto waitlists.
Alex Williamson, budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee that State Hospital South (Blackfoot), State Hospital North (Orofino) and State Hospital West (Nampa) provide short- and long-term residential care and that the division is authorized 467 full-time positions. Williamson said accreditation delays in prior years caused the hospitals to shift fund sources and seek additional general fund support when federal billing was not possible.
Director Alex Adams told the committee that accreditation…
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