Pubdate: Sun, 14 Dec 2003
Source: Charlotte Sun Herald (FL)
Webpage: herald.com/NewsArchive2/121403/op1.htm?date1403&story=op1.htm
Copyright: 2003 Sun Coast Media Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.sun-herald.com/newsch.htm
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1708
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

INSURANCE HEADACHES TURNING INTO HEARTACHES FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE

Count Charlotte County Mental Health Services Inc. as the latest victim of 
insurance costs.

The Charlotte County program, which counsels and cares for the mentally ill 
and substance abusers young and old, is in trouble. Increases in the cost 
of medical malpractice insurance and worker's compensation, and a decision 
to pay for employees' health insurance, have opened up a $202,000 deficit, 
just four months into the fiscal year.

The result? Layoffs. Jerry Ross, executive director of CCMHS, has given 
notice to 12 employees than he can no longer afford to keep them on staff. 
Their leaving will force other moves, including the shutting down of a 
group home that cared for more than a dozen severely mentally handicapped 
- -- most of them elderly.

"We began seeing some deficits last May, but nine or 10 people quit and we 
were able to make it by not replacing them,' Ross said. "But our medical 
malpractice costs went up $90,000, our worker's comp is up $50,000 and we 
decided to increase our participation in employees' health insurance since 
we cannot give them a raise this year."

Employees will not get a raise because the state contract that pays for 
much of the center's operating expenses remains static. Legislators could 
not find the money to increase its contribution, even though costs continue 
to rise.

Continually pointing the finger at lawyers has not served the medical 
community well. If there is a better example of where the problem lies, we 
haven't seen it.

Ross says his center has had two claims filed against its staff since 1996 
and both were settled out of court. In both instances, he argues, the 
center could have won the suit but insurance companies, fearing to roll the 
dice, elected to settle the claim.

And, it is not just medical malpractice insurance that has taken its toll 
on the budget. Worker's comp and health insurance costs continue to spiral 
upward.

State lawmakers are not getting to the heart of health care problems in 
Florida. Shutting down G. Pierce Wood Memorial Hospital was just one of 
many mistakes that have been made by a state Legislature that continues to 
spend less per capita on mental health services than most every other state.

It is yet to be seen how laying off mental health techs, case managers and 
substance abuse managers will affect Charlotte County's populace.

The outcome, however, certainly won't be positive.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman