What the Mental Health Cuts have already done.

Hi guys. As some of you may know, I'm about to graduate with my master's degree in Social Work.

I just talked with one of my professors about the cuts that came down last Thursday. Here's what I've learned so far --

1.) The reimbursement rate cuts were announced at 430pm, when billing was due at 500pm.

2.) Agencies all over the state are in full scale panic mode. They are scrambling to keep the lights on. Under the mental health "reform" these community services are all privitized and administered through places of business. At $40 an hour, they can't cover overhead.

3.) Need proof? My professor consults with one of the biggest community areas in the Triad. The cuts came on Thursday, the check they got from Medicaid was shorted by $70,000. Layoffs began yesterday. 14 clerical and support staff have been shown to the door -- All in less than a week. It will start with clerical and support. If the situation doesn't improve, eventually it will bite the clinicians because they are more expensive employees.

4.) Apparently the DMA (which pays out Medicaid) has signaled that they are willing to compromise with the community agencies. But, they are getting absoultely nothing from Easley.

It's hard to convey just how much chaos this has thrown the Mental Health world into already. The mental health "reform" has been an absolute nightmare, and they're solution has gone far far overbudget. Rather than fix any of the problems, the answer is to cut cut cut services to the mentally ill. What are they doing for society other than sucking up tax dollars? They didn't reelect me! It's the crudest of all political and moral calculations.

Don't stop calling Secretary Odom or Governor Easley.