2 weeks Ago By Joseph Cress The Sentinel
Cumberland County has started scaling back services to offset a projected $3.3 million deficit in the mental health budget for 2024-25. Commissioners last week approved three contracts that, taken together, yield about $515,372 in savings by reducing the length of each term from one year to six months.
Keystone Service Systems Inc. will see a decrease of about $367,128 in revenue from the county, said Mike Evans, intellectual and development disabilities/early intervention director. The Cumberland County Housing and Redevelopment Authorities will see a loss of about $84,000, while the York County Transportation Authority, operating as Rabbittransit, will see a loss of $64,244.
County Mental Health Director Annie Strite has met with each vendor, Commissioner Kelly Neiderer said last week. “It is a painful process for her, but this is part of the action we are having to take in light of our projected deficit. While we are not canceling services, we are scaling some back and not obligating for the full year.
” In late August, county officials said work was underway to evaluate programs that are not state mandated with the goal of sustaining as much as possible such direct care services as 24/7 crisis intervention and residential programs. Since 2010, the county has been operating with flat or decreased state funding. Recent spikes in demand and cost increases have pushed annual deficits to around the $3 million mark, forcing the county to scale back services.
One driver of costs is the need for provider agencies to recruit and retain qualified personnel to staff programs. The lack of adequate state funding puts a strain on the ability of the system to keep pace with inflation. Staff have gone through extended periods without raises and caseloads are approaching burn-out levels.
A lobbying campaign targeting state lawmakers yielded $20 million more for mental health services in the latest state budget. That money would have to be divided among Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. Gary Eichelberger, the commissioner liaison to Cumberland County mental health services, he briefed the public on the status of this additional funding during last week's meeting.
The state Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services has advised Cumberland County that it will receive about $443,000, Eichelberger said. With other allocations included, this brings the total amount of new state revenue to $796,000, far short of what is needed to close the projected deficit, he said. Meanwhile, progress is underway to open by the end of this year a regional walk-in center to provide crisis intervention services to residents of Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry counties.
The service provider, Connections Health Solutions, is in the process of hiring staff, Eichelberger said last week. “You know they are getting closer when they are starting to fill the positions.” To spread the word about the center and its services, Connections staff have been participating in community meetings and health fairs, Eichelberger said.
“We have high hopes that this is going be an important component of our mental health solutions for this county. We are anxious for them to get online and get services up and running.” Late last year, commissioners in all three counties accepted a $13.
1 million state grant and signed a memo of understanding that sets up a structure to administer the partnership. The partnership will have until June 30, 2025, to spend down the grant made available through the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. New federal regulations aim to make mental health and addiction services more affordable.
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