Caregivers, sheriff say Maine mental health system faces looming crisis

[jpak]

Source: Bangor Daily News

BRUNSWICK, Maine — Service providers and advocates for those with mental illness say the sudden closure of Merrymeeting Behavioral Health Associates tears a hole in a safety net promised by the government when state-run psychiatric institutions closed decades ago.

Merrymeeting Behavioral Health Associates in Brunswick on Monday notified state and local officials that it would close on April 22 because of anticipated cuts in the state’s reimbursement rates to providers of government-funded, community-based mental health services.

That means 400 people with disabilities or who otherwise need care will lose services abruptly, making them more vulnerable and potentially damaging their health, advocates said Wednesday.

The changes, to take effect on April 8 unless the Legislature intervenes, would affect adults and children with mental illnesses and other disabilities who receive government-funded Medicaid services in what is known as Section 17 of the MaineCare Benefits Manual.

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Read more: http://bangordailynews.com/2016/03/30/news/state/caregivers-say-maine-mental-health-system-faces-looming-crisis/

[AxionExcel]

1. FAILURE, Republican style. As usual.

Everything the Republicans get their greazy mitts on goes to shit.

[davidthegnome]

2. Something else to thank LePage for.

I'm so sick of this governor. It goes well beyond disliking him at this point. He is a vicious, arrogant, malicious egomaniac, a disgusting example of the human human race and the worst of what people can become. He has - time and time again, worked against the poor, against those in need, against people who are suffering. Somehow he managed to win two elections here and even survive an impeachment vote. I still don't really understand how. I can think of very few people, historical or otherwise, who are (or were) as rotten, ignorant, bigoted, cruel and destructive as LePage.

This asshole should never have come anywhere near a position of anything even resembling actual responsibility. How he ended up as Governor instead of the town drunk of dumbfuckville, I don't know, but I'm sick of him.

[Grins]

3. And....cue Lee Greenwood!!

The same thing is happening in Louisiana. Thanks, Piyush!