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Commissioners consult voters on tax increase |
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Tuesday, 02 February 2010 |
Mental health, drug, alcohol program would benefit
BY SOPHIA ALDOUS
S-E Staff Reporter
Around the same time last year, Stevens County Commissioners were considering a proposal to increase the retail sales tax in order to help the county drug, alcohol and mental health program.
In light of declining revenue and loss of funds from an already strained state budget, that consideration has resurfaced.
In early 2009, commissioners considered imposing a one-tenth of one percent sales tax to help fund new or expanded mental health and chemical dependency treatment services as authorized by state law.
After hosting two public forums to discuss the possible tax, county commissioners voted two to one not to adopt the tax without seeking an “advisory only” vote from county residents.
Fast forward to 2010. The Stevens County Elections Department mailed out 26,339 advisory only ballots last month. Ballots must be postmarked by the special election Tuesday, Feb. 9. A “yes” vote would recommend an increase in the county tax rate from .076 percent to .077 percent. A “no” vote would suggest that an increase not be implemented.
“No one likes taxes, but this just might be one of those times when spending a little money now can save us a lot of money later,” said Stevens County Commissioner Malcolm Friedman. “There is ample data from our state that both mental health and chemical dependency treatment works, reduces other health care costs, reduces crime rates and can return many people to being productive members of society.”
Would a tax prevent spending in other areas?
According to Executive Director of Northeast Washington Alliance Counseling Services (NWACS) Dr. David Nielsen, there is discussion among Washington State legislators about turning publicly funded Chemical Dependency and Mental Health treatment systems into a “Medicaid Only” system where individuals who are uninsured and/or of low-income will no longer be able to access treatment services.
“The majority of the patients we see in our Chemical Dependency Program are low-income/non-Medicaid and have at least a portion of their treatment paid for with public funds,” explained Dr. Nielsen. “As these funds diminish, people will go without the treatment they need, but can’t afford, and are likely to be driven to alternative and more costly systems of care at medical clinics, hospitals, jails and prisons.”
Dr. Nielsen said the NEWACS Chemical Dependency Program served over 670 patients. Dr. Nielsen added that even if half of those people who didn’t come to NEWACS sought treatment through some other system, there would still be over 1,300 people in Stevens County who were in need of, but not receiving chemical dependency treatment.
“The need is clear and the situation is similar for mental health treatment, where we estimate that as many as 500 people in our county need, but have not accessed treatment,” explained Dr. Nielsen. “Now we have to turn more of them away due to funding reductions.”
Impacting local
health care
NEWACS has already enforced new business changes at the beginning of the year in order to deal with the loss of revenue and funds, including eliminating the sliding fee schedule for mental health, elimination of the sliding fee schedule for several chemical dependency services, and imposing charges for previously covered services.
As of Jan. 1, NEWACS has discharged nearly 170 low-income/non-Medicaid patients from its mental health program because of funding changes.
There is also concern from local health care providers that the reduced services and financial restrictions of NEWACS could cause a trickle down effect, forcing people who need mental health assistance or chemical dependency treatment to go to hospital emergency room.
“The emergency room is not the right setting for treatment of chronic alcoholism, drug addiction, or mental illness,” said Bob Campbell, CEO of Providence Mount Carmel Hospital.
Dr. Barry Bacon of the Northeast Washington Medical Group Clinic in Colville echoed that sentiment, commenting that the fall-out from NEWACS lack of funding would eventually impact local clinics.
“We are not equipped to handle chronic mental health or chemical dependency problems at that level either,” Dr. Bacon stated.
Friedman estimated that a median-income household in Stevens County would spend an additional $10.50 per year on their taxable purchases if the one-tenth of one-percent tax were passed. Those earning and spending less would pay less, according to Friedman.
“So for the equivalent cost of purchasing a single item from the dollar menu at any fast food restaurant each month of the year, the county could generate an estimated $300,000 to help pay for mental health and chemical dependency treatment to our most vulnerable residents,” said Friedman. “It certainly seems like an affordable and wise investment to me.”
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 09 February 2010 )
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