Richard D. Duggin, Executive Director for the DCMHS, based in Greenville, MS, informed his staff three weeks ago that the Mississippi Division of Medicaid is proposing sweeping changes to several programs the organization has operated for decades. If the changes are approved the severe and persistently mentally ill will see a dramatic decrease in the level of services the region’s mental health agency will be able to afford to provide.
In August of this year many officials attended a 45 minute meeting with the overview of new programs Medicaid was proposing and it raised a lot of questions among those in attendance. At face value the services most needed by individuals we all serve appear to be the ones most impacted by this change. There were new services presented in this meeting by Medicaid. These services are specialized and geared towards a small population and the cost to provide their services far exceeds what would be reimbursed. Many of the attendees of this meeting doubted they would be able to implement them. If the proposed changes are approved as presented DCMSH will have to close two programs as they will not be eligible to participate due to the new rules. There are some services the DCMSH provides that they do not get paid for, simply because they are very much needed to help keep individuals stable out of the State Hospital, off the streets, and in a structured environment. They will have to very carefully structure and limit what they do if this plan moves forward.
Some people wonder whether
heroin rehabs, addiction treatment facilities, and other rehabilitation programs will be affected by the Medicaid alterations.
