Missouri Governor Questions DOJ Report Validity

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The U.S. Department of Justice released a scathing report on Missouri’s treatment of mentally ill citizens, finding that the state is subjecting patients to years-long stays in nursing homes through the legal guardianship process, violating the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Why it matters: The report highlights significant deficiencies in Missouri’s mental health system and the need for comprehensive reforms to ensure adequate care and support for individuals with mental illnesses.
The details:

• The DOJ conducted an 18-month investigation, interviewing hundreds of state officials and visiting more than 60 providers across Missouri.
• In some Missouri nursing homes, over 80% of residents have severe mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.
• Advocates argue that the 1% of the sickest patients have been grossly underfunded, leading to a lack of services for the seriously mentally ill.
• A Medicaid exemption means that the costs of patients in institutions for mental diseases are not covered, forcing individuals to pay out of pocket for necessary care.

What they’re saying:

• “It’s disappointing the federal government makes those kinds of accusations, and I’m not sure they’re correct to start off with,” said Governor Mike Parson, expressing doubt about the report’s validity.
• “There is a woeful lack of services for the seriously mentally ill, and that’s at all levels of care,” said Rachel Streiff, co-founder of “Mad Moms,” emphasizing the need for better funding and services.
• “The care provided in nursing homes has been necessary because it’s the only setting where the federal government funds what should be transitional care,” said Jefferson City Attorney Harvey Tettlebaum, representing the Missouri Healthcare Association.

The other side: Tettlebaum criticized the DOJ report for omitting details about the roles of federal agencies like the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, arguing that they have abdicated their responsibilities in providing support for transitional care.
What’s next: Governor Parson’s administration is expected to work with mental health professionals, community leaders, and other stakeholders to develop an actionable plan to address the shortcomings in Missouri’s mental health system, with further updates anticipated in the coming weeks.

Full story

Missouri Governor Mike Parson has responded to a Department of Justice report that found the state mistreats thousands of mentally ill citizens. The report said Missouri is subjecting patients to years-long stays in nursing homes through the legal guardianship process, which violates the Americans with Disabilities Act. Parson expressed doubt about the report’s validity.

“It’s disappointing the federal government makes those kinds of accusations, and I’m not sure they’re correct to start off with,” Parson told reporters Tuesday. He said these are things the state can deal with and wants to give the necessary resources. The governor noted he had not reviewed the methodology used by the DOJ.

Governor doubts DOJ report on Missouri

The report presents findings from a year-and-a-half investigation, which involved interviews with hundreds of state officials and visits to more than 60 providers across Missouri. Rachel Streiff, co-founder of an Arizona-based organization called “Mad Moms,” which now has a chapter in Missouri, commented on the report.

“There is a woeful lack of services for the seriously mentally ill, and that’s at all levels of care,” Streiff said. “The 1% of the sickest patients have been grossly underfunded. I don’t know why, because they’re expensive to society.

It’s unfair; it’s highly discriminatory.”

Currently, an exemption in the law means that Medicaid does not cover the costs of patients in institutions for mental diseases or “IMDs.” This means anyone who needs this care will likely have to pay out of pocket. Streiff emphasized that lifting that Medicaid exemption on the federal level is the first step towards treating mental health care like any other kind of health care.