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Harrisburg State Hospital Closing
County wants more mental health funds
Thursday, January 06, 2005
BY JACK SHERZER
Of The Patriot-News
If Harrisburg State Hospital is closed, area officials said they
want to make sure the state will cough up enough money so the community
doesn't become the victim.
At yesterday's Dauphin County commissioners meeting, officials talked
about a state commitment for long-term funding.
They also hope the state kicks in enough money to address immediate
needs of patients who would be released.
Without state money, local taxpayers would have to foot the bill,
officials said.
"The state's track record is not good in this area," commission
Chairman Jeff Haste said. "Name one program that started out
with a certain level of commitment and then 10 years later the commitment
is still there."
The state Department of Public Welfare is expected today to formally
announce the hospital's planned closing. Officials say it would
occur by the end of this year and result in some patients being
moved back to their home communities for treatment.
The state agency may hold a public hearing on Jan. 19. But area
lawmakers have asked the department to delay the hearing to allow
those affected more time to prepare.
The hospital is the oldest of the nine state hospitals, which treat
the mentally ill. It has about 260 patients and 539 employees and
primarily serves Dauphin, Adams, York, Cumberland, Perry, Franklin
and Fulton counties.
About 40 of the 86 county residents at the hospital could be headed
back to the community, Haste said.
He said there is a shortage of state hospital beds, which results
in the county prison facing delays in moving troubled inmates. Recently,
the prison was told there would be a six-week wait to have an inmate
moved to a state hospital, which Haste said is too long.
"I think that's everyone's goal, to get these people back into
the community," Haste said. "But you have to be properly
committed to it and not do it half ... baked."
County District Attorney Edward M. Marsico Jr. said he was also
concerned about adequate facilities. The county now relies on the
Mayview State Hospital near Pittsburgh to evaluate offenders on
competency to stand trial.
Marsico said his office hasn't had a problem getting timely evaluations,
but he is concerned whether the state is cutting its system too
far.
Sandy Moore, the county's Human Services director, said that getting
the state to commit to long-term funding is the top priority.
If the number of state hospital beds allocated to Dauphin County
drops to 40 as expected, Moore said, officials will seek additional
state money to fund mental health providers so those needing help
can be reached before they need hospitalization.
Moore said the county will also push for sufficient aid to providers
to help patients who would be released.
Additionally, Moore said, they'll insist that the mental health
money assigned to each resident continue should that resident be
incarcerated. Currently, if someone receiving state assistance is
jailed, the state money to fund that person's treatment stops.
County officials estimate it costs $58 a day to hold the average
prisoner in the county jail; Haste said accommodating a mentally
ill inmate can add another $30.
While the commissioners said they wish Harrisburg State Hospital
would remain open, Moore said the reality is that it will likely
close.
"The critical point now is that we get the resources not only
for now ... but for ongoing needs," Moore said.
JACK SHERZER: 255-8263 or
jsherzer@patriot-news.com
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All Rights Reserved.
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