Humboldt County is struggling to keep up with the rising demand for mental health care services, with funding shortages and escalating costs threatening the viability of local services. At a recent Humboldt County Board of Supervisors meeting on February 25, officials from the county’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) shared alarming figures regarding the county’s behavioral health budget, which is grappling with significant deficits.
Humboldt County’s Behavioral Health division, which manages acute and crisis care through facilities like the 16-bed Sempervirens psychiatric hospital, is facing a growing financial challenge. For the 2023-2024 fiscal year, the division operated with a budget of $64.5 million, but it is now projecting a $4.3 million deficit, an increase from last year’s $2.7 million shortfall. Costs related to the county’s crisis stabilization unit and psychiatric services have significantly outpaced revenue, with deficits of $4.5 million and $2.3 million respectively.
One of the most notable cost increases has been in Long Term Care Placement (LPS) services for individuals under county conservatorship. Over the past five years, the cost for these services has surged by 128%, reaching $9.8 million. Deputy Mental Health Director Jack Breazeal explained that these costs are not reimbursable by Medi-Cal, further exacerbating the financial strain.
“Although the number of LPS patients has only slightly increased, the cost per patient has more than doubled,” Breazeal said, attributing the rise to the increasing acuity of patients and longer stays in care.
Mental Health Director Emi Botzler-Rodgers highlighted the county’s dire need for more local mental health providers. Despite efforts to recruit and retain professionals, the county remains underfunded and is struggling to meet the demand for services. “We don’t have enough local providers, and we’re not generating sufficient revenue,” she said.
In response to the escalating crisis, Board Chair Michelle Bushnell suggested that local cities—many of which rely on county mental health services—contribute additional funding to help cover costs. She noted that cities like Eureka and Arcata often refer their residents to county facilities, and they should share the burden of these financial challenges. “This is not Humboldt County’s problem alone,” Bushnell said. “It is every city and every person’s problem in Humboldt County.”
The county is already under a corrective action plan from the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to address issues with service timeliness and funding deficiencies. However, Botzler-Rodgers emphasized that the county’s ability to increase revenue hinges on having more direct service providers to bill, and vacancies in these positions have further compounded the financial strain.
The county’s overall budget is also in the red, with a $10 million deficit. While additional funding from the General Fund is not an option, Bushnell has called for cities to explore possible financial contributions to ease the burden on the county’s mental health system.
Despite these challenges, there is some progress to report. The county has secured state funding for the development of a new Behavioral Health Crisis Triage Center at Mad River Hospital. The facility, which will offer 43 beds, is expected to help keep more patients locally and reduce the need to send individuals out of county for care.
While this new facility offers some hope, the county’s mental health services remain under significant pressure, and local officials are exploring every avenue to ensure that the community’s mental health needs are met.
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