State Advocacy Psychiatric Hospital Closure Protecting Community Reinvestment Jimmy Walsh, President...
Transcript of State Advocacy Psychiatric Hospital Closure Protecting Community Reinvestment Jimmy Walsh, President...
State Advocacy
Psychiatric Hospital Closure
Protecting Community Reinvestment
Jimmy Walsh, PresidentNAMI Alabama
SAN@ConventionSeattle, WA
June 27, 2012
State Advocacy
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The Challenge• Governor’s proposal:
– Close two state psychiatric facilities, the first on 9/1/12
• Two others slated for closure remain open
– Continue building new 268 bed hospital – Community care plan TBD
• FY2012 & 13 proposed budgets– 22% reduction proposed (10.6% per year)– 42% overall GF reduction ($63M) since FY2009
State AdvocacyThe Challenge: FY12-13
Budgets• Good news:
– 1% DMH increase FY2013 – provisional• Threat:
• CONTINGENT on constitutional amendment to balance the budget
• $145M/year for 3 years from Trust Fund • Citizens vote 9/18/12 – trend toward
opposition
• Bad news:– If defeated: 18% across the board cuts– DMH loses $19M, Medicaid loses $75M
State AdvocacyAdvocacy Strategy
• Coalition– United message: Hospital closure on a responsible
time frame must be coordinated with strengthened community services.
– Regional Forums: Decision makers heard stakeholders
• NAMI Board: – Communicate to Governor and legislators
• Letters, board resolution, visits
• Membership: – Legislative Advocacy Day – Affiliates urge attendance at forums
State AdvocacyOther Forces
• Public outcry– Petitions– Legislature opposes closure in their district
• Media coverage• Bazelon Center letter to Governor
- Reminder of Stickney v. Wyatt class action suit
• Final budget hearing: – Senator defended, “cut corrections
instead”
State AdvocacyDecision Makers:
• Governor – Decisions on hospital closure or continuity– Constitutional amendment to balance budget
• DMH Commissioner– Community service plan – still in process
• Legislature– Defend hospitals in their district - Jobs
State AdvocacyWhat is working?
• Engaged coalition• Allied interest with legislators• Take the issue to local districts• Effective media coverage
State AdvocacyInterest Group Invitation
• Ensuring acute and long term care reinvestment in wake of state hospital closure
• Discussion questions:– What pressure points, opportunities and pitfalls,
should NAMI leaders be aware of? – What effective strategies can be used to strengthen
inpatient and outpatient capacity?– What best practices exist? Where are they?
State Advocacy
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Contact:
NAMI Alabama• Jimmy Walsh, President
• Wanda Laird, Executive Director [email protected]