2004 News Releases
For more information, contact Lois Thomas, 573-751-4423
Suicide rate down in Missouri with help from education grant
JEFFERSON CITY, MO., DECEMBER 15, 2004 - The suicide rate in Missouri is headed in the right direction, according to officials in the Missouri Department of Mental Health. It's going down. The department reported state suicide rate figures that are still above the national average, but coming down.
"Anytime you have a decrease in the suicide rate, it's good news," said Dr. Joseph Parks, Mental Health medical director. "We hope that our recent efforts to prevent suicide have helped."
In 2001, the department allocated funds from the Community Mental Health Services block grant from the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services to take action across the state regarding suicide awareness and prevention. The Department of Mental Health awarded four grants totaling $150,000 to agencies throughout the state. During fiscal year 2003 (July 1, 2002-June 30, 2003), the agencies sponsored 227 training sessions across the state, with 5,676 individuals attending. In FY 2004, which ended June 30 of this year, the agencies completed 348 trainings. In those sessions, the 9,429 persons attending learned how to identify suicide warning signs and how to assist suicidal persons in getting the help they need.
According to the American Association of Suicidology, Missouri's suicide rate in calendar year 2001 was 12.9 suicides per 100,000 citizens, while the national rate was 10.8. In 2002, following the first year of the block grant, the state rate went down to 12.2, while the national rate went up to 11.0, or about 51 fewer deaths by suicide than expected in the state, based on the Missouri rate and the increased national rate. "This shows that citizens and their communities working together can prevent suicides and save lives," Parks said.
In addition, legislation passed during the most recent session required the department of Mental Health to partner with the state Department of Health and Senior Services to develop a state suicide prevention plan. That partnership, in collaboration with the state departments of Social Services, Elementary and Secondary Education, Higher Education, and Corrections, and other community-based agencies, resulted in a draft plan that has been the subject of 14 town hall meetings in the state. The 535 people in attendance at the meetings provided comments and suggestions to the plan. The department will continue to accept public comment on the draft through Dec. 15, 2004. The draft is available on the department's web site at www.dmh.mo.gov/suicide .
A 10-person team representing state agencies, community-based organizations, and consumers guided development of his plan and helped to arrange and facilitate the town meetings.
The Department of Mental Health serves Missourians by working to prevent mental disorders, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse; by treating, habilitating, and rehabilitating persons with those conditions; and by educating the public about mental health.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Beth Champlin, Standing Partnership
(314) 469-3500 or bchamplin@standingpr.com
MISSOURI SEES $7.7 MILLION IN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES SAVINGS
Novel Program Gives Patients Better Care While Cutting Inefficiencies
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., Dec. 9, 2004 - An innovative program to increase the quality of care that Missouri residents with severe mental illnesses receive, while encouraging more efficient use of Medicaid dollars appears to have achieved both its goals, a recent analysis shows.
The Missouri Mental Health Medicaid Pharmacy Partnership Program (MHMPP), the first program of its kind in the United States , evaluates Medicaid mental health prescribing practices. The program seeks to improve care for Missouri residents by educating doctors about evidence-based best practices for mental health medications and reducing inefficient and ineffective prescribing patterns.
"Not only did the MHMPP program positively affect the quality of care received by Missourians suffering from severe mental illness, it also allowed Missouri to save $7.7 million in costs the Medicaid program would have incurred in state fiscal year 2004 had the inefficient prescribing patterns not been identified," said Joseph Parks, M.D., medical director of the Missouri Department of Mental Health.
"We were pleased to see that most Missouri doctors are following the recommended guidelines when prescribing medications. We have identified the small number of doctors who aren't and are reaching them with educational materials to help change their prescribing habits. These changes have resulted in better patient care and savings for our Medicaid program," said Parks.
Some of the inefficient prescribing patterns the program identifies include duplicative prescribing of medication by different doctors for the same patient; prescribing multiple medications from the same therapeutic class; children on three or more psychotropic medications; and premature, rapid switching from one medication to another.
After reviewing, identifying, and analyzing problematic prescribing patterns, the program provides doctors deviating from best practices with information to help them make patient-care decisions based on the latest medical evidence.
The MHMPP program is entirely voluntary for Missouri doctors. All decisions regarding treatment and medications are made privately between the physician and the patient and are completely individualized.
An analysis from the program's first year shows the following :
- a 98-percent reduction of patients who are prescribed the same mental health medications from multiple doctors;
- a 64-percent reduction of patients who are on two or more mental health medications of the same type;
- a 43-percent reduction of children on three or more psychotropic medications; and
- a 40-percent reduction of patients receiving an unusually high dosage of medication.
The MHMPP was developed by the Missouri Department of Mental Health and the Missouri Department of Social Services' Division of Medical Services, in collaboration with Comprehensive NeuroScience, Inc. Eli Lilly and Company, an Indianapolis-based pharmaceutical company, has been providing financial support for this program in an effort to promote excellence in patient health care.
"The program is a model of cooperation among state agencies. It represents a collaboration of the clinical resources of our staffs, the industry, and our providers. Most importantly, it assures our most vulnerable citizens the greatest access to best medical practices and current therapies, while being sensitive to our limited resources," said Christine Rackers, director of the Missouri Department of Social Services' Division of Medical Services.
The program also has proven to be popular outside of Missouri. Fifteen other states have signed contracts to develop similar programs, buoyed by the increasing awareness that mental health is integral to physical health. This project demonstrates two traits other states are eager to copy:
- That management of mental health drugs should be based on nationally recognized standards and guidelines, as well as individual patient needs, to ensure the highest quality care; and
- That Medicaid dollars for mental health drugs can be wisely managed by focusing directly on the quality of prescribing practices.
"We fully support cost-effective programs like this that focus on improving patient care while encouraging more efficient use of taxpayer dollars," said Jack Bailey, Lilly vice president, Business to Business. "We believe a significant opportunity exists within the Medicaid system to reduce costs by improving the quality of care and patient outcomes, and we applaud Missouri 's leadership and innovation with this project."
For more information on this project, visit the DMH Web site at www.dmh.missouri.gov/index.htm and DMS at www.dss.state.mo.us/dms.
MENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT NAMES INTERIM DIVISION DIRECTOR
JEFFERSON CITY, MO., DEC. 2, 2004 - Officials in the Missouri Department of Mental Health have announced the appointment of Tony A. Casey Jr., Ph.D., as interim director of the Division of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.
Dr. Casey, who resides in Herculaneum , Mo. , retired in June 2003 as the executive director of the Jefferson County Developmental Disabilities Resource Board, where he served 23 years. Dr. Casey's new appointment is effective today.
"Dr. Casey's background in working in an administrative capacity in service to people with developmental disabilities, in addition to previous experience in special education, makes him a perfect fit for the position," said Dorn Schuffman, director of the Department of Mental Health. "His vast experience will enable him to step right in to continue the progress made by Dr. Anne Deaton." Dr. Deaton recently announced plans to retire her position at the end of the year. The department continues its search for a permanent division director.
The Department of Mental Health serves Missourians by working to prevent mental disorders, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse; by treating, habilitating, and rehabilitating persons with those conditions; and by educating the public about mental health.
MENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT TAKING STEPS TO IMPROVE CARE AT BELLEFONTAINE HABILITATION CENTER
JEFFERSON CITY , MO. , OCT. 7, 2004 - Officials in the Missouri Department of Mental Health have announced several steps to improve care for clients at the Bellefontaine Habilitation Center.
The department continues to make changes at Bellefontaine as its review of the facility and its operations progresses, reported Anne Deaton, director of the department's Division of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, which oversees the habilitation center.
"Assuring a safe environment where high-quality care can be provided is our first responsibility," Deaton said. "The review of our Bellefontaine facility has indicated several areas that need improvement. The steps we have decided to take will affect the way care is provided not only at Bellefontaine, but throughout our entire system."
The areas of concern and the department's response include the following:
Investigations
All pending investigations of serious incidents are being reviewed by a team from the department's central office to determine proper procedures and response. Four employees have been terminated for abuse and neglect, and disciplinary action is being taken against four other employees involved in four key cases. Other closed investigations at the facility are being reviewed and may be reopened.
Staffing and Training
The department has authorized the recruitment of 56 additional staff at the center, using resources from other areas. The additional staff authorized includes 54 direct-care positions, one psychiatrist, and one psychologist. The department also will submit a supplemental budget request for the current fiscal year for additional staffing.
Training has been increased in order to assure that all staff know how to use the most appropriate behavior management and restraint techniques.
The department also has introduced workplace improvement initiatives at Bellefontaine that have proved successful in reducing unscheduled staff absences and mandatory overtime at other department facilities.
Administration
The department is pursuing a contract with a nationally recognized management organization that has a history of working with facilities that serve people with developmental disabilities. The organization will review the overall structure at Bellefontaine, with emphasis on the recruitment of a new director, while assessing staffing requirements in the areas of quality assurance, nursing, psychology, and unit manager positions. Additionally, this group will provide training and oversight to current staff, recruit new staff as needed, review investigations and processes, and offer recommendations for restructuring as needed.
Clinical Reviews
Psychologists from outside the facility are supervising the review and revision of treatment plans of all the people served at Bellefontaine. The review is expected to lead to an increase in treatment interventions, along with opportunities for additional group activities, thereby reducing the demand for one-on-one staffing.
With all of the adjustments being made at Bellefontaine, Deaton indicated that the department will continue to pursue the goals set in its five-year plan for habilitation centers statewide. "The department remains committed to phasing out the use of certain buildings on hab center campuses. The consequent reduction of the census at Bellefontaine, in particular, will help to improve staffing ratios," she said. "The department is devoting increased resources committed to identifying and eliminating barriers to community placement, particularly in the eastern region of the state. Our budget request for the next fiscal year includes new funding that can be used flexibly to assure appropriate staffing at our habilitation centers or to fund appropriate community alternatives, based on the census at the hab centers. Of course, consumers will continue to have the freedom of choice in selecting a living arrangement, as required by federal law."
Deaton noted that reviews at habilitation centers statewide will continue in an effort to assure high-quality care is provided.
The Department of Mental Health serves Missourians by working to prevent mental disorders, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse; by treating, habilitating, and rehabilitating persons with those conditions; and by educating the public about mental health.
DEATON LEAVING POST AS MENTAL HEALTH DIVISION DIRECTOR
JEFFERSON CITY , MO., OCT. 5, 2004 - Anne S. Deaton, Ed.D., has announced her retirement from the state as director of the Division of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (MRDD) in the Department of Mental Health effective January 1, 2005. Citing recent developments in her personal life, Deaton reported her decision to Mental Health officials Monday.
"It is with regret that I accept Anne's resignation. She has been a very strong and capable advocate for the people we serve. But I understand that no matter how important the job, sometimes family must come first," said Dorn Schuffman, Department of Mental Health director.
"With my husband's recent appointment as chancellor of the University of Missouri-Columbia, I want to be able to support his efforts in serving the Mizzou community and, in this way, continue serving the state of Missouri ,"Dr. Deaton said. "I am excited about volunteering my time on MU's behalf. I also am truly looking forward to spending more time with our parents, our four children and their families, and especially our two grandchildren."
Dr. Deaton reflected on her state service: "In my years at the Department of Mental Health and, before that, at the Department of Health and Senior Services, I have been privileged to serve with tremendously hard-working and compassionate public servants on behalf of the citizens of our state who need and deserve the public's support. I also very much value the support and mentorship of the current director, Dorn Schuffman, and the Mental Health Commission. My most important guides in my efforts have been the consumers themselves and their families and guardians. Together we have worked on many infrastructure and policy changes to promote well-being, inclusion, and self-direction; to expand residential and service options; and to garner needed resources from multiple sources. There is, and will always be, much to do given the ever-changing dynamics for the people served by the division. I am grateful that there are many capable and dedicated people ready to assume leadership at the top and throughout the division to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow."
Dr. Deaton was appointed to direct MRDD in December of 2000. She oversees a work force of 4,500 in the operation of 11 regional centers and five habilitation centers that serve more than 27,000 people with developmental disabilities statewide. Prior to her appointment at Mental Health, she served as deputy director of the Missouri Division of Aging's Home and Community Services Unit.
She also worked at the University of Missouri as an assistant professor and held several administrative positions at Virginia Tech University . Dr. Deaton earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Kentucky at Lexington, graduating Phi Beta Kappa; a master's degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville; and her doctorate from Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg.
Schuffman noted that the search for a replacement for Deaton would begin immediately.
The Department of Mental Health serves Missourians by working to prevent mental disorders, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse; by treating, habilitating, and rehabilitating persons with those conditions; and by educating the public about mental health.
PLANNING UNDERWAY TO REFORM CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM
JEFFERSON CITY , MO , SEPT. 29, 2004 - Children's mental health services currently provided by multiple agencies will be easier to access through a unified system of care that is being developed in Missouri.
The Comprehensive Children's Mental Health Services Initiative seeks to create a system that provides children and families with effective services in the home and the community, and ensures that children are not placed in state custody solely to receive mental health care.
"The Legislature and Governor have given us the opportunity to see to it that children in Missouri receive the mental health services and supports that they need," said Beth Griffin, executive director of Citizens for Missouri 's Children and a co-chair of the initiative.
Senate Bill 1003, passed by the Legislature and signed by Governor Bob Holden earlier this year, requires state agencies to develop a comprehensive children's mental health services system in Missouri . The plan for this seamless system of services must be presented to the Governor and Legislature by December 2004.
"The current system has some successful programs, but the system as a whole is fragmented among different agencies. We need a comprehensive system that is easy to access and easy to move within," Griffin said.
Parents, advocates, mental health professionals, state agencies and other public and private child serving agencies are working to develop the plan. The new system will focus on prevention and early intervention services and provide help to families in their home, school and community.
"Mental health services and supports need to be directed to the child's natural environment as much as possible. In most cases, children do much better when they remain with their family," said Beth Viviano, a parent and co-chair of the initiative. "Treatment and care decisions need to be made by parents and mental health professionals."
Senate Bill 1003 mandates that Missouri have a comprehensive, unified and accountable children's mental health system. Accountability, says Linda Roebuck, deputy director for the Department of Mental Health, means that the system produces the results that parents want for their children.
"Parents want their children to live at home, stay out of the juvenile justice system, and be successful in their school and community," said Roebuck. "We need a system that can provide for this and also a process to measure how successful we are at achieving those outcomes."
Information on the development of the plan for this new initiative can be found at www.mo.gov and by clicking on Missouri's Comprehensive Children's Mental Health Services Initiative .
The Comprehensive Children's Mental Health Initiative includes the Departments of Mental Health, Health and Senior Services, Social Services, Elementary and Secondary Education, Public Safety, the Office of State Courts Administrator, the juvenile justice system, and other public and private child-serving agencies, as well as parents and parent advocacy groups.
MENTAL HEALTH ADMINISTRATION TEAM RECEIVES QUALITY AWARD
JEFFERSON CITY, MO., JULY 20, 2004 - Joel Zemmer, Marilyn Dayton, and Debbie Yeokum, who work in the Department of Mental Health's accounting and reimbursement section, are recipients of the department's 2004 Administration Quality Award.
As a team, the three initiated changes in the existing process for claiming federal reimbursement of the costs of administering the state's Medicaid program. The project helped the department's Office of Administration toward its goal of improving the availability of consumer services by making the best use of existing and new resources.
"These individuals exemplify the quality personnel who work in the Department of Mental Health," said Mildred Glasper, director of the department's Administration office. "Their efforts above and beyond their regular duties benefit not only the people we serve, but all tax-paying citizens of Missouri ."
The trio's efforts resulted in increased federal revenue for the department during fiscal years 2003 and 2004, when general revenue funding for the department was being reduced. The increased revenue came from significant increases in the percentage of total payroll billed to Medicaid.
The Quality Award was established to recognize outstanding accomplishments of department administration employees; to recognize teamwork as an important factor in achieving quality service, cost effectiveness, and customer satisfaction; and to recognize individual and group achievements.
The Department of Mental Health serves Missourians by working to prevent mental disorders, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse; by treating, habilitating, and rehabilitating persons with those conditions; and by educating the public about mental health.
SARGEON ELECTED TO CHAIR MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSION
JEFFERSON CITY , MO., JULY 20, 2004 - The Missouri Mental Health Commission elected Clifford L. Sargeon as its new chairman during its regular meeting on July 8. Sargeon, from Raytown , Missouri has served on the commission since 2001.
A former human resources director for the U.S. Postal Service, the retired Sargeon is active in his community, serving on the boards of directors of several non-profit care facilities and organizations, including Renaissance West, an outpatient drug Treatment Center in Kansas City; Comprehensive Mental Health Services in Independence; the Kansas City Metropolitan Crime Commission; the Metropolitan Community Service Project; the Citizens Advisory Committee to the Missouri Department of Corrections; and the Missouri Juvenile Justice Advisory Group.
As a volunteer with the AD Hoc Group Against Crime's Drug Task Force, Sargeon also helped to close more than 200 drug houses, to provide mentoring to at-risk youth, and to provide programming to teach anger management.
The Department of Mental Health serves Missourians by working to prevent mental disorders, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse; by treating, habilitating, and rehabilitating persons with those conditions; and by educating the public about mental health.
