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Mental Health Overhaul

Written by KEYT Producer

Story Created: Dec 12, 2011 at 1:08 PM PDT

Story Updated: Dec 13, 2011 at 9:06 AM PDT

Sacremento (AP) - California is overhauling its mental health services program to concentrate care on the most serious patients residing in state mental hospitals and prisons.

But the cost-cutting move is raising concerns about patient care from state workers, because it would eliminate 620 positions to save $193 million next year.

The state will hand off more responsibility for public mental health programs to counties as part of Gov. Jerry Brown's ongoing push to move services to California's local governments.

The administration says the move will allow the state to form a new Department of State Hospitals that focuses exclusively on 6,300 patients in state hospitals and prisons.

This week the Department of Mental Health will start with a pilot program at Atascadero State Hospital to treat its most aggressive patients.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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