Seeing getting help for those battling mental issues as a public safety issue, Florida TaxWatch wants the state to increase funding for mental health service, pointing out that Florida ranks 49th in the nation for per capita mental health expenditures.
Based on TaxWatch’s analysis, Florida’s mental health treatment system provides positive outcomes for Floridians with mental health issues despite being underfunded.
“Mental health problems affect many members of our communities, from children in our elementary schools to retirees in nursing homes, and ensuring individuals are getting the help they need is truly a matter of public safety,” said Dominic M. Calabro, President and CEO of Florida TaxWatch, the independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit taxpayer research institute and government watchdog. “It is critical that our state’s mental health dollars are spent most efficiently to provide care to those who need it most, and our state’s Behavioral Health Managing Entities are helping to do that, even with minimal funding.”
Florida provides substance abuse and mental health services to uninsured Floridians through seven regional nonprofit organizations known as Behavioral Health Managing Entities. Florida’s regional service delivery model allows for services to be tailored to community needs at a lower cost to the state. Florida TaxWatch finds that the state’s managing entities have resulted in increased accountability for their service providers, better assessment of local community needs and more efficient use of state tax dollars.
More money is needed and the state should allow more flexible in its to better meet local needs, address coverage gaps for young adults no longer eligible for services and require new outcome reporting measures to ensure effective service delivery, according to TaxWatch.
Read the report.