Due to lack of cooperation from local providers, the long-awaited Dane County Mental Health Study is lacking in critical information
TO: Members of the Dane County Board of Supervisors
FROM: Chair Sharon Corrigan
SUBJECT: Release of PCG Mental Health Review
I was pleased to read County Executive Parisi’s memo to the Board regarding the imminent release of the long-anticipated mental health study.
When I met with the County Executive almost seven weeks ago, I learned that the mental health study was incomplete as a result of a lack of information from providers who are supported by private health insurance rather than by Medicare and Medicaid. The County Executive indicated that he had made the decision not to release the report until further information could be gathered. Given that data from private insurers has not been forthcoming and cannot be included in the analysis, I am pleased the County Executive has chosen to release the report now.
It is unfortunate that there is a lack of willingness on the part of private-paid providers to share information, and that there is apparently no approach by which provision of this information can be compelled. We are now left with a study that maps approximately 30 percent of the map of mental health services, but those are the very services the county can influence. I know from talking to Dane County Department of Human Services Director Shawn Tessmann that she intends to use the study to influence systems change, and I believe the Board can also benefit from the study to guide the use of funds in the 2020 budget.
The County Executive and I had also discussed the need to set funds aside to be informed by this important study, and I am pleased that the CJ Tubbs Fund for Hope, Healing and Recovery and other allocations were included in the budget for community centers and seniors.
Tonight the Health and Human Needs Committee will begin reviewing budget amendments. If the report is released early in the day, it may be able to inform their deliberations, and will certainly be available for Personnel and Finance and the full Board’s consideration. With this information, I know we can work together to make a good budget even better.
