“We found it virtually impossible to provide quality residential housing and services because I didn’t have a contract. Unfortunately, I had to shut down leaving several people without a bed,†said Gale Coates, president of Coat Lane Enterprises.
The compensation currently received for the service is $34.06 per day, an amount of $134.00 is requested per consumer from the DMH, one that current contractors are being paid. Recently, several licensed mental health independent homes were closed for numerous violations of Chapter 38. Most challenges range from infestation of bed bugs, replacement of household furniture, and lack of maintenance to the facilities.
“You can’t stay in the Red Roof Inn, for one night, with compensation we receive for the services. Many of these consumers should be placed into contracted facilities, where they [are] compensated a higher amount,†Gilmore said.
An essential effort for the CRF is to address corrective measures that will improve the health, wellness and holistic care of mental health consumers. The goal is to assist consumers to become fully integrated into their community. For this reason, the contract must continuously assess and document need for a mental health CRF placement and proactively plan for less intensive levels of residential care in partnership with the individual and their Core Services Agency treatment team.
“Some contractors are getting paid a higher amount for residents, but non-contractors are providing the same services. I don’t think it’s fair to the consumers,†Coates said.
A memorandum was sent in September to the Director of the Department of Mental Health, requesting a plan of action within 30 days. Current duties performed are feeding, assistance with medical appointments, maintence of medication intake look, and medical reviews for consumers just to name a few.
“I don’t understand why these things always work so slowly. With the economy the way it is, I wish I could go to Congress and ask for a bailout like these other companies are doing,†Gilmore said.
Over 200 beds could be in the process of closing before the end of the year.