Protect Mental Health and Substance Abuse Budgets
So far mental health budgets have been cut this fiscal year by almost $9,000,000 and agencies are considering an additional $3,000,000.
As the state's budget crisis continues mental health and substance abuse treatment is getting cut. So far state leaders have decided to cut all of the state's agencies the same amount. This means that agencies that provide services to the people who need them the most are being cut too deeply. We need to communicate with the decision makers that if we cut mental health and substance abuse treatment, we will only cost shift into more expensive parts of the state's budget, like emergency rooms, acute hospitilizations, and in some cases, the criminal justice system.
TAKE ACTION: Let our legislators know that even in tough times, we must invest in treatment and protect services.
Oklahoma cannot afford more cuts to mental health and substance abuse services.
Mental health and substance abuse treatment comes from two primary agencies at the state level. The Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and the Health Care Authority are the two largest payors for mental health and substance abuse treatment.
Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
ODMHSAS has cut over $9,000,000 this year, on top of a budget that was already reduced $6,900,000. (See a detail of these cuts) The board of the Department is considering an additional cut of $184,000 at their next board meeting in January. The Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services operates on an administrative budget of 4%, and maximizes efficiencies by using a blended service delivery model of both contracted providers and state employee providers.
Because, like most mental health services, the Department has historically been underfunded and these cuts are stopping services. So far cuts have been targeted to reduce the impact on service recipients, but it is estimated that over 1000 people will not recieve treatment because of these cuts.
See a detail of budget cuts at this agency
Oklahoma Health Care Authority
The Health Care Authority is a major purchaser of mental health services in Oklahoma, and has provided services to over 825,000 Oklahomans in this year alone. Their board is currently considering an estimated $4,000,000 in cuts to mental health and substance abuse services. (See a detail of these cuts) Including access to antipsychotic medications, the reimbursement rate for providers, and cost caps for treatment.
The Health Care Authority has made great strides in recent years to advance the treatment of mental health and substance abuse, and this progress is in jeopardy.
See a detail of possible budget cuts at this agency (Note: This document is list of possible budget reductions, not all items will be finalized)
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