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2008 Budget Request Good for Mental Health
But Very Limited Gains for Geriatric Mental Health

The Governor's Budget Request includes cost of living adjustments for community mental health providers, additional funding for housing providers, 2000 new units of housing, additions for children, and beginning efforts to confront co-occurring disorders.

But the budget request does not include funding for more geriatric mental health demonstrations or for the establishment of a center for excellence to spread best practices in geriatric mental health throughout NYS, which have been our priorities for 2008.

However, there are other items in the budget that will benefit older adults with mental disorders:

• OMH has removed the Medicaid neutrality cap. This will make it easier for organizations to mount new or expanded geriatric mental health programs. We encourage programs to apply for licenses.

• There are 140 new housing units for people with mental retardation who are aging, about half of whom will have co-occurring mental illness.

• The targeted Expanded in Homes Services for the Elderly Program (EISEP) will include screening for mental and substance abuse disorders. Obviously, follow-up and access to treatment services for older adults that need them will be critical.

• Various long term care initiatives can include mental health components.

• Home Care Technical Advisory Council.

• Regional Caregivers Centers for Excellence $950,000, of which $200,000 is respite for caregivers

• Consumer Empowerment Initiative, $500,000 for up to 8 start-up grants to enable communities and neighborhoods to develop services to promote aging in place

• Enriched social adult day program demonstration--$1 million to test a model’s ability to prevent or delay placement in nursing homes

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