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Saturday, October 15, 2005

Ind. Gov't. - More on "FSSA urges 'localization,' not 'privatization,' at Richmond State Hospital"

Updating this ILB entry from last Sunday, 10/9/05, headed "FSSA urges "localization," not "privatization," at Richmond State Hospital," quoting stories from the Richmond Palladium-Item, is this P-I story from Friday, reporting on community forums held Thursday to gauge community support for the state's proposed privatization of Richmond State Hospital. Some quotes:

Without disclosing too many details, Richmond State Hospital Superintendent Jeff Butler said the state hospital is discussing possible plans to form its own not-for-profit organization with the intention of running the state hospital.

Plans are still preliminary, but he said the state hospital would like to include many organizations that are involved with mental health services. "We're at the point of discussing this to consider this," Butler said. "It puts us in a position of not knowing if everything's going to be the same as it is. It's scary, it's very scary."

He said he wants to protect jobs, benefits and patients. "We want to make sure we're a provider for the future," Butler sad.

Roob said he believes that people in Indianapolis cannot properly operate a facility in Richmond. Mental health is the only part of FSSA where the state offers direct care to patients, and he would like to see the state stop doing that.

Richmond Common Councilman Gil Klose asked whether the state hospital would operate under a maintenance contract or whether assets would be transferred to the not-for-profit.

"The state will continue to own the physical assets of Richmond State Hospital," Roob said, but he said he would like those turned over to the not-for-profit.

Roob also said he would like the FSSA to change the way it pays for mental health and addiction services. State hospitals are paid in a monthly lump sum, but he would like to see that change to paying organizations per patient per day. "The governor and I believe in the entitlement of individuals and not institutions," Roob said.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on October 15, 2005 08:28 AM
Posted to Indiana Government