By Julia Simcoe

Sun Staff Intern

NORWICH – Health care reform initiatives meant changes within Chenango County’s Mental Health department last year, according to an annual report that was delivered to supervisors in May.

The publicly-funded organization serves the mentally ill, developmentally disabled and those who are chemically addicted.

Chenango County Mental Hygiene Services Director Ruth Roberts said cost-shifting at the state level forced her to keep closer tabs on productivity. As a result, clinicians themselves “are now much more aware of the business side of their jobs,” she said.