Budget cuts endanger mental health nursing centers

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HAVILAND, Kan. (AP) -- Officials with the state's 11 mental health nursing facilities are concerned that the state's budget problems could put them out of business, or severely reduce services they provide.

Karel Page, administrator of the Lakewood Rehabilitation Center in Haviland, says the homes have already cut services. And she says Gov. Mark Parkinson's decision to cut 10 percent in Medicaid reimbursements could force some of the centers to close.

The state's 11 mental health nursing facilities are transitional homes for people released from the state's mental hospitals who are not ready to live at a community mental health center.

Leaders of the nursing facilities say they have cut programs but are still required by law to provide the services, regardless of whether the client can pay. They also are seeing an increased demand for mental health services.

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Information from: The Hutchinson News, http://www.hutchnews.com