Shortfalls prompt closer look at mental health budget
NORWICH – Potential staff cuts were discussed in executive session last week as county supervisors continued to scrutinize shortfalls in mental hygiene services.
The department has been charged with bringing in a balanced budget to offset a $300,000 deficit from 2007 in addition to about $80,000 so far this year. This year’s deficit was cut in half from last month’s budget report to legislators. Mental Hygiene Services Director Mary Ann Spryn said revenues had picked up with a full staff.
“We are going in the direction we thought we would go in. We have been looking at structures and total services that we have,” she said.
Spryn, whose department’s budget has been under the microscope all year, has called the deficit in 2007 “an anomaly.”
“In the past, we have always made budget,” she told town supervisors who make up the Chenango County’s Finance and Health and Human Services committees.
The department was understaffed for much of 2007 and, therefore, tallied fewer clinic hours and less revenues. It is fully-staffed at present, with 12 case workers, and Spryn said she hoped to make up a two-month lag by the end of the year.
Auditors from the New York State Office of Mental Health are due to evaluate and suggest improvements to scheduling and billing practices within the department. Spryn said she hoped the audit would result in more revenues to recoup the previous losses.
“There could be more money (from the state OMH) after the audit,” she said.
In addition to cutting possibly three positions, Spryn said she is considering ending the Continuing Day Treatment program and establishing another satellite clinic to reach clients in Sherburne and New Berlin.
Supervisors Dennis Brown of Pharsalia and Richard Schlag of German have pointed out on numerous occasions that staff numbers are generally down in mental services.
“Where do we draw the line?” Brown asked. “Even with new people in training or producing revenues at the get go, there is still not enough to pay them with what they are planning to generate.”
“You are usually down, never at full staff. You need to plan for that,” Schlag said. “If you find yourself out again, what do you do to cover expenses?”
Administrative Services Office Tom Crounse said, “We deal with a certain clientele who are in poor situations, but we do have methods in place (to see improvements in revenues.) The deficit will go away because the positions are filled, but we need time to catch up.”
Supervisor Wayne Outwater, R-Lincklaen, questioned how less overall staff - if proposed cuts go into effect - could result in more revenues.
Spryn said Medicaid billing rates for clinician services to clients exceeds what is paid out for Continuing Day Treatment participation.
The department has been charged with bringing in a balanced budget to offset a $300,000 deficit from 2007 in addition to about $80,000 so far this year. This year’s deficit was cut in half from last month’s budget report to legislators. Mental Hygiene Services Director Mary Ann Spryn said revenues had picked up with a full staff.
“We are going in the direction we thought we would go in. We have been looking at structures and total services that we have,” she said.
Spryn, whose department’s budget has been under the microscope all year, has called the deficit in 2007 “an anomaly.”
“In the past, we have always made budget,” she told town supervisors who make up the Chenango County’s Finance and Health and Human Services committees.
The department was understaffed for much of 2007 and, therefore, tallied fewer clinic hours and less revenues. It is fully-staffed at present, with 12 case workers, and Spryn said she hoped to make up a two-month lag by the end of the year.
Auditors from the New York State Office of Mental Health are due to evaluate and suggest improvements to scheduling and billing practices within the department. Spryn said she hoped the audit would result in more revenues to recoup the previous losses.
“There could be more money (from the state OMH) after the audit,” she said.
In addition to cutting possibly three positions, Spryn said she is considering ending the Continuing Day Treatment program and establishing another satellite clinic to reach clients in Sherburne and New Berlin.
Supervisors Dennis Brown of Pharsalia and Richard Schlag of German have pointed out on numerous occasions that staff numbers are generally down in mental services.
“Where do we draw the line?” Brown asked. “Even with new people in training or producing revenues at the get go, there is still not enough to pay them with what they are planning to generate.”
“You are usually down, never at full staff. You need to plan for that,” Schlag said. “If you find yourself out again, what do you do to cover expenses?”
Administrative Services Office Tom Crounse said, “We deal with a certain clientele who are in poor situations, but we do have methods in place (to see improvements in revenues.) The deficit will go away because the positions are filled, but we need time to catch up.”
Supervisor Wayne Outwater, R-Lincklaen, questioned how less overall staff - if proposed cuts go into effect - could result in more revenues.
Spryn said Medicaid billing rates for clinician services to clients exceeds what is paid out for Continuing Day Treatment participation.
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