Governor Bentley Details Impacts of the Legislature’s Proposed Cuts to the Department of Mental Health

MOBILE–Governor Robert Bentley on Monday participated in a statewide mental health disability awareness campaign in Mobile to discuss the current budget crisis in the General Fund and the impact to the Department of Mental Health if the Legislature’s severe cuts are enacted.

“We are facing a tremendous crisis in our General Fund Budget that will impact every Alabama County if not addressed by the Legislature,” Governor Robert Bentley said. “I am committed to finding new revenue so our state agencies can continue to provide essential services to Alabamians. For decades, we have failed to address the way our non-education state agencies are funded. With no one-time money available to support the General Fund and debts that are owed, we have a real crisis on our hands. I encourage Alabamians to let their elected representatives know that these cuts are unacceptable.”

The Alabama Legislature is considering a proposal that deeply cuts funding for state services. Each state agency was created by law to provide specific services to taxpayers. If enacted, these cuts will put the state in a position incapable of providing many of the essential services of government.

Cuts specific to the Department of Mental Health:

Community Mental Illness Services impacted:

Over 24,000 people with mental illness will lose or experience reductions in services.
589 consumers will lose residential services (group homes, supported housing, MOM apartments, etc.).
4,840 consumers will lose intensive outpatient services (case management, in-home intervention, assertive community treatment, day treatment, partial hospitalization programs, peer services, etc.).
16,274 consumers will lose routine outpatient services (individual and group therapy, family counseling, psychiatric services, medications, etc.).
2,598 consumers will be unable to access psychiatric stabilization services (crisis residential units, psychiatric inpatient units, etc.).
1,080 community mental health center employees in various counties will lose their jobs.
Closure of county satellite treatment programs will result in no community mental health services for those counties.
$6 million in federal funding tied to the SAMHSA Mental Health Block Grant will be lost.

Community Intellectual Disability Services impacted:

Approximately 1,127 people in the current waiver programs will lose their life-sustaining services, and/or
Approximately 2,000 people will lose supported employment and day program supports, and
As a result, many of the family members (approximately 2,000+) of these individuals could lose their jobs because they will have to stay home to care for these individuals, further adversely affecting the economy in loss of revenue and productivity, and/or
All 5,829 individuals who are currently receiving waiver services could lose approximately 21% of the services they currently receive.
A majority of small providers who provide residential and day habilitation programs around the state will go out of business.
Over 3,000 individuals currently on the waiting list for waiver services will not receive them.

Total Budget Impact

$35.2 million cut in state funds; $64 million in federal matching funds lost; $99 million total budget reduction.

“Now is the time for real solutions to address our budget challenges. I was elected to solve problems, and I urge members of the Legislature to work with me to put this state on a successful path forward. I applaud the House GOP Caucus for agreeing with me that tax increases are needed to address the revenue shortfall in the General Fund. However, their proposal raises only a portion of the needed revenues for state agencies to operate on October 1. By working together, we can make Alabama better for future generations,” Bentley added.