COMPASS HEALTH
LEGISLATIVE OBJECTIVES

Mental Health Crisis

Funding for needed mental health services in the North Sound Region is being reduced. Because of changes in Federal Medicaid rules and associated funding reductions, significant changes are occurring in the four counties served by Compass Health. Programs are being closed, employees are being laid off, and clients are being negatively impacted. Between 1/1/04 and 6/1/05, Compass Health will have slashed its budget by an annual amount of $3 million. These changes include:

•  Close the Homeless Drop In Center in Everett
over 500 homeless individuals were served there each year, with 30,000 meals served and those needing mental health services were brought into care

•  Close the Luther Children's Crisis Facility
over 125 children were served there each year being provided with up to a 14-day's stay in a safe, therapeutic environment, avoiding a hospitalization far from home.

•  Close the O'Leary Crisis Bed Facility
six bed facility providing crisis beds for adults on Whidbey Island – individuals who need this service will now have to be served in Skagit or Snohomish County as beds are available

•  Reduce the Bailey Center Crisis Beds
reducing from 25 to 16 beds – those who need crisis beds to prevent hospitalization may find there are no beds available

•  Reduce Preschool Program in Everett
intensive group treatment will no longer be available for hundreds of preschoolers who are in need of support to remain in childcare and preschool programs

•  A Reduction of 33 Direct Service Clinical full-time employees
each serving up to 35 clients at any given time. This means those clinicians who remain will have higher caseloads, which will increase the likelihood of staff turnover with negative impact for our clients

•  A Reduction of 28 Administrative/Support full-time employees
this places further stress on the infrastructure of our organization

Due to a lack of funding, since July 2004 we have had to turn away an average of 80 individuals per month who were seeking outpatient mental health services.

•  Without Legislative intervention, the situation will get much worse.
Beginning July 1, 2005, Medicaid funding (the State dollars matched by Federal Medicaid dollars) cannot be used to serve non-Medicaid enrollees or to provide non-allowable services. Because of this change, the State of Washington will lose $41 million per year in its already inadequately funded mental health system.

•  The Legislature must backfill the $41 million per year loss of
Federal funds.

•  The allocation formula for distributing the new State funds
must be changed so as to not penalize certain regions.

•  Example: Even if the full $41 million is appropriated, Compass Health
will experience a $730,000 reduction for the next fiscal year based on the current State allocation formula.

PLEASE URGE YOUR REPRESENTATIVES TO APPROVE THE NECESSARY FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH. Without it, more mentally ill individuals will end up on the streets, in jail, or in emergency rooms. These systems cost more than treatment, and will not help the vulnerable members of our communities.

Bills
Mental Health Parity: The State House of Representatives has already passed a mental health parity act. It is now before the Senate for consideration. Please urge your state senate representatives to pass the mental health parity act.