Effects of fiscal retrenchment on public mental health services for the chronic mentally ill.
In reviewing the public mental health services of 11 California counties during a period of fiscal retrenchment, we found several common trends: a greater focus on the severely mentally disabled; an increase in utilization of hospital-based care, residential treatment, day treatment, and case management services; and a decrease in the capacity of traditional outpatient services. Although the severely mentally disabled are receiving a higher priority for service, the findings imply that these service systems continue to inadequately address the need for long-term maintenance and supportive services to this population.
D002140:California; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003363:Cost Control / Q000639:trends; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008489:Medical Indigency; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*