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Officials tell appropriations committee state hospitals are accredited but civil‑commitment costs are rising
Summary
Department of Health and Welfare officials said all three state psychiatric hospitals have achieved accreditation, have begun billing Medicaid for eligible stays, and are nonetheless seeking a one‑time $2.6 million supplemental because civil‑commitment costs have increased since the state assumed county costs following 2022 legislation.
Alex Williamson, Legislative Services Office budget analyst, briefed the committee on the Division of Psychiatric Hospitalization budget and noted the division had $62.6 million in expenditures in fiscal year 2024, driven primarily by personnel and operating costs.
Director Alex Adams confirmed all three state hospitals — State Hospital North (Orofino), State Hospital South (Blackfoot) and State Hospital West (Nampa) — have received accreditation. Adams said accreditation allows the hospitals to bill Medicaid for eligible patient stays and that billing has begun: State Hospital West "has billed $1,600,000 and received $1,300,000," Adams said, showing early federal receipt recovery.
Nonetheless the department is seeking a $2.6 million…
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