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Getting
the word out about the loss of services for those suffering from mental
health, drug addiction and alcohol problems is becoming an increasingly
critical issue in Fairfield County.
"There
are a number of people in the community with serious mental health, drug
and alcohol problems that we can't provide appropriate services to," said
Orman Hall, executive director of the county's Alcohol, Drug Addiction and
Mental Health Services Board. "Not being able to provide these services,
could cost some lives in the future and mean a number of people will have
diminished lives and not be able to live the quality of life they should."
With
Medicaid costs rising and no way to alleviate those costs -- meaning they
must be paid -- other areas are taking a backseat, with some programs
being eliminated.
"Our
agencies have good services but people are suffering, because important
services that we should have, we don't," Hall said.
Three
percent of the county's population receive services from the board's six
contracting agencies, New Horizons, The Recovery Center, Fairfield Medical
Center, The Lighthouse, Mid-Ohio Psychological Services and the Fairfield
Mental Health Consumer Group.
The
board, whose budget is projected at $5.9 million, has made more than
$600,000 in cuts since the levy failure in last November's general
election.
Reductions made between fiscal year 2003 through fiscal year 2004,
directly affect the contracting agencies, who in turn reduced their
budgets in numerous ways.
"We
account for 70 percent of all of our contracting agencies' budgets," Hall
said.
Cuts
made were: New Horizons, $312,926; The Recovery Center, $143,954; The
Lighthouse, $17,124; Mid-Ohio Psychological Services, $36,744; and The
Fairfield Mental Health Consumer Group, $46,387.
Besides
cuts to its contracting agencies, the board also reduced their office
budget by $68,361, which includes temporarily reducing one staff position
and freezing employee salaries.
"I think
we're close to having a balanced budget," Hall said. "Expenditures were
increasing at such a rapid rate that we had to use our operating
reserves."
This has
in turn depleted the operating reserves significantly.
Revenues
have varied from $20,000 to $1 million a month, depending on levy and
state money or Medicaid settlements.
The
board's expenditures are typically $500,000 to $600,000 a month.
"We're
pretty confident we won't spend more money than we have this year, because
of a cash flow problem," Hall said. "When we had reserves, we could pay
the bill on time. It will be a little tighter now. But if we have
increases in Medicaid this year, we'll have to make additional cuts. We're
hoping we'll see some of the increases level out in the near distant
future."
The
board's contracting agencies billed $3,629,862 in Medicaid in fiscal year
2003, up 23.7 percent from $2,934,766 in FY 2002. The increase between FY
2000 and FY 2003 was 54.3 percent.
If
Medicaid patterns continue, there will be additional cuts.
"If you
look at our overall Medicaid expenditures, they have grown tremendously
and we have no ability to control it," Hall said. "It will depend upon
Medicaid trends and what happens to state and federal funds. If billing
trends continue, we'll have to make additional cuts and all of our
providers know that."
In the
meantime, the board is gearing up to do all they can to educate the
community and try to pass a replacement levy in 2005. This is very
essential, Hall said.
"Because
we have such a small levy, we can't provide services at the same level
that most other counties can," he said. "We're already cutting back on
non-Medicaid services. This puts us in a double bind that most counties
aren't experiencing and is making our existing mental health system less
adequate than it is.
"What
we're going to attempt to do in these next two years is educate the
community about why these issues are so important and try to pass a
replacement levy," he said.
In
November's general election, the board tried to pass a new levy, but was
defeated. Issue 15, a 1-mill levy, would've cost the owner of a $100,000
home $30.62 a year of $2.55 a month.
The
board renewed their existing levy, a 0.75-mill levy in 1986 and 1996.
Going for another renewal levy would continue to put the board in the same
situation it's in now.
"If we
can pass a replacement levy, it will generate substantial revenue," Hall
said.
A
replacement levy can be sought, when the existing levy is three elections
away from expiration.
It's
very difficult to pass a new levy, Hall said.
Statistical data from the Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health
Authorities show that between 1993 and 2002, only 2 new levies passed and
the other 49 new levy attempts failed in the state. During that same time,
27 replacement levies were passed and 10 replacement levies failed.
Running
a successful campaign will include a lot of door to door, personal
contact.
"We're
going to spend a lot of time developing a volunteer base to get this word
out and that's going to take some time to do," Hall said.
Until
then, finding additional means to stay afloat remains constant.
"We need
to get creative about looking for revenue to finance mental health and
drug and alcohol services," Hall said. "Property taxes don't equally
affect all people in our county. ADAMH boards need to have a broader range
of local income opportunities than we do now."
Originally published Monday, August 11, 2003 |
