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State hospitals accredited but civil commitment costs and competency caseload growth strain budget
Summary
Officials told the appropriations committee that all three state psychiatric hospitals are now accredited, enabling Medicaid billing, but rising civil commitments and a large increase in restoration-to-competency cases are driving one-time supplemental requests and pressuring general‑fund spending.
The Department of Health and Welfare told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee that all three state psychiatric hospitals — State Hospital North (Orofino), State Hospital South (Blackfoot) and State Hospital West (Nampa) — have received accreditation, a step the department said will permit Medicaid billing for eligible patients.
Director Alex Adams said accreditation has started to generate Medicaid receipts: “State Hospital West… has so far billed $1,600,000; they’ve received $1,300,000,” which the director characterized as reduced general‑fund need because a portion of patient care is now billed to Medicaid.
At the same hearing, analysts reported a departmental request for a $2,600,000 one‑time general‑fund supplemental to cover increased costs for mental-health holds and commitments in fiscal year 2025. Analyst Alex Williamson tied that request to a…
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