Carmen Hooker Odom

Lynne Bonner at the N&O does a decent job today chronicling the decline and fall of community mental health under the "leadership" of Carmen Hooker Odom and Mike Easley.

Easley responded to calls for her ouster with public statements of support. He and Hooker Odom emphasized Friday that she has had plans for months to leave for the health-care policy foundation, where she has served as a member of the board.

"Secretary Odom told me in January that she had this extraordinary opportunity to have a nationwide, even global, impact on critical health policies," Easley said in a statement. "I wish her all the best in her new endeavor and I appreciate her effective leadership and hard work during the past six years as head of the Department of Health and Human Services. She has handled one of the most challenging jobs in the state with great skill and compassion for all those the department touches."

So Mr. Mike knew Carmen was leaving back in January. Which means Mr. Mike knew Madame Secretary already had one foot out the door while a completely mismanaged meltdown of community mental health was going on in North Carolina.

Carmen Hooker Odom and her minions throughout the Department of Health and Human Services, released an "effective immediately" memo to severely restrict access and authorization of Community Support services. This decision came on the heels of the precipitous rate cut on April 5.

Well - just like the Dept. was forced to climb down from their capricious decision to cut the Community Support rate, they've immediately climbed down from the April 24 memo.

The head of the Department of Health and Human Services launched a massive change in mental health services on the day before Easter weekend, making rate cuts retroactive over a month. The same person yesterday released an “effective immediately” memo with another massive change in mental health services. Mental health providers, by and large private/for-profit businesses, already destabilized by five years of rapid changes in the state’s mental health reform, all had to rewrite their business plans on April 5th in response to the surprise 33% rate cuts. Today they’re again figuring out how best to go out of business.

Carmen Hooker Odom killed the mental health system today. On the heels of her irresponsible decision to slash rates without consulting the mental health community, Hooker Odom today made it impossible for providers to survive and for recipients to have access to timely services.

In a memo, the Dept. of Health and Human Services ordered that effective immediately:

Secretary Carmen Hooker Odom and her antisocial lackeys at the Division of Medical Assistance decided last week that they needed another week to analyze the costs of Community Support services. Of course, they didn't see any need to analyze costs at all when Secretary Odom precipitously slashed funding by a third, making the cuts retroactive to March 1. Due to massive public pressure (that's you) the Odom retreated to a position of making the new unsustainable rate begin April 5 and continue until they set a new rate using their magickal After-the-Fact cost analysis.

The Asheville Citizen-Times and the head of Western Highlands Local Mgmt. Entity (the body that ostensibly coordinates services for many of the western counties) have both called for Secretary Odom's dismissal. Reminiscent of George W. Bush's "complete confidence" in Alberto Gonzales, Governor Easley has expressed his complete confidence in Secretary Odom. Her decision to slash rates to $40/hour for a service that breaks even at $53/hour sent the entire state network of private providers into a mad scramble for cash to meet payroll, to keep their doors open.

If you've got anything in mind, I'm taking suggestions. The mental health crisis, nearly averted through the efforts of a responsive citizenry, isn't over yet. Hooker Odom's message of "Blame the Providers" is catching on, and no one except the Asheville Citizen-Times is willing to tell the simple truth that Odom targeted the worst providers in order to further scuttle a profoundly fragile system.

Hooray for the AC-T for reading the situation correctly:

AC-T: "The chaos and mismanagement of mental health reform under N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Carmen Hooker Odom justifies last week’s call by the Western Highlands Network for her resignation."
[...]
"A consultant hired to evaluate the state’s mental health delivery system said in January that the state provides inadequate, ineffective and inconsistent treatment; lacks sufficient crisis intervention and community detoxification services; and has a poorly functioning system for screening people with mental illness and providing community-based support.

Rep. Charles Thomas (R-116) today moved that the House Appropriations Committee hold a public hearing regarding the mental health system crisis precipitated by Secretary Carmen Hooker Odom and her lackeys. The motion was seconded and carried.

Unless House Speaker Joe Hackney kills it, there will be a public hearing next week. Secretary Odom, Division Director Allen Dobson, Deputy Director Mark Benton, and Director Mike Moseley will also be expected to attend.

When I say public, I mean public. Every citizen of North Carolina who's affected by Secretary Hooker Odom's impulsive, dangerous decision to slash Community Support rate will have the right to speak.

{pic credit Mike Dirks at Hendersonville Times-News}

Background on this story here, here, here, here, here, here.

Hendersonville Times-News: "Mental health care leaders in the mountains are calling for the dismissal of North Carolina's top health official on the grounds of mismanagement."
[...]
"This cut was done without any consultation with providers, LMEs, counties, CFAC (Consumer and Family Advisory Council), advocates and hospitals, the very ones that supply the essential mental health services in our communities," [Jason] Chappell wrote.
[...]
"Chappell asked residents to "request that the rates are re-instated and action be taken to place competent people in charge of mental health in the state."

Background on this story here, here, here, here, and here.

In a piece in yesterday's Raleigh News-Observer, Department of Health and Human Services Director Carmen Hooker Odom defends her precipitous decision to retroactively slash rates by 33% for vital Community Support services across the state. The article doesn't mention the providers who have already shut their doors due to the cuts, doesn't mention the 33% salary cuts for providers at Asheville's Family Preservation Services, and doesn't mention the way the DHHS used only outliers to determine problems in the system. Secretary Odom, who serves at the pleasure of Governor Easley, is guilty of obfuscation and avoidance, and I'm happy to rebut her claims.