NORWICH – Chenango County Mental Hygiene Services Director Ruth Roberts made the rounds in government committees last week advocating to keep alcohol and drug abuse services under the auspices of her department.
Town supervisors suggested during budgeting season last year that the counseling and treatment services program should be privatized as a way to save taxpayer dollars. Chenango County Alcohol & Drug Abuse Services are not mandated by the New York State Department of Health.
The local share to provide ADAS was $142,000 in 2010, including health care and retirement benefits for the 17-member staff. State and federal Medicaid reimbursements pick up the rest of the unit’s $1 million plus annual tab. Approximately 222 clients received services last year in about 900 visits with clinicians.
The Finance Committee, meeting last Thursday, concurred with a referral from Health & Human Services Committee that the service should be retained. Roberts provided data concluding that treatment was in high demand, that privatizing would not decrease the levy, and that the county’s law enforcement, jail, social services and educational institutions would be overburdened without the program.
“We can never help all of the individuals that need it, but to have nothing in the community wouldn’t be the type of community I would want to live in and raise my children in,” said Roberts.
The director also pointed to pending redesign of Medicaid at the state level as well as upcoming regulation changes for funding the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services.
Roberts, who took over the reins of the department last year, said she understood the growing and exorbitant retirement and health care costs coming down the pike for counties, but said she had no control over them.
“In terms of the numbers of and quality of services, it would be very difficult for any private provider to deliver what the county is,” she said.
Finance Committee Vice Chairman Dennis Brown, D-Pharsalia, who has recommended the private sector for many county services through the years, said he would rather see a business “get a shot at it.”
“I’d love to keep it; it’s a good program. But I’d like someone to tell me where the money is going to come from,” he said.
Brown referred to a recent actuarial study that indicated the county’s 10-year cash flow projection for post retirement health care benefits could double from $2.1 million this year to $4 million in 2021.
Members of the Finance Committee referred the matter back to Health and Human Services and Agricultural Buildings & Grounds committees to find ways to perhaps consolidate mental health and ADAS services instead. Brown seconded a motion made by the supervisor from Lincklaen to “not study,” but “do” combine the two entities.
“It isn’t a rosy future for county taxpayers. I appreciate your willingness to keep working on this,” Finance Chairman Lawrence Wilcox, R-Oxford, told Roberts.
Chenango County took control of alcohol and drug abuse services in 1982. In 2003, the board of supervisors considered contracting with Chenango Memorial Hospital to manage the program, but voted against it.
Roberts said individuals with overlapping drug, alcohol and mental health problems represent one of the fastest growing populations incarcerated at the county jail. She called ADAS employees “very highly specialized” and “one of the county’s greatest resources.”