GERZOFSKY APPOINTED CHAIR OF COMMITTEE IN WAKE OF RIVERVIEW CRISIS

AUGUSTA—Senator Stan Gerzofsky (D-Brunswick) has been appointed by Senate President Justin Alfond to serve as chair of the Forensic Mental Health Services Oversight Committee.  The committee was formed in the aftermath of the announcement that Riverview Psychiatric Facility would be cut off from $20 million in federal funding. 

The Federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued several reports citing staffing issues, worker safety, and patient treatment as reasons for failing to meet guidelines for funding.

“These reports are shameful. The treatment of our patients and the safety of staff are two of the most important issues the legislature must deal with in the coming months,” said Gerzofsky.  “I am gravely disappointed that as chair of the committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, we have not been able to get any straight answers from the administration about this situation prior to it becoming a crisis.  The loss of $20 million of funding is a big problem for the state.  But we are where we are, and now we will look to correct deficiencies and work together to make this right.”

Despite previous warnings in March and May from CMS to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) about the status of Riverview, an unannounced visit by CMS in mid-September led to termination of federal funding.  While DHHS Commissioner Mary Mayhew has said she will appeal the CMS decision, Gerzofsky and some of his colleagues in the legislature are not so assured that this issue will be remedied on its own.

During a special legislative session in August, an emergency measure, LD 1515, was passed to temporarily fix the problems of overcrowding at Riverview by moving some the forensic patients to the State Prison in Warren. According to the administration, this measure would appease CMS’s concerns.

“The administration assured us that the bill would solve the immediate problems before the facility.” said Gerzofsky “Clearly, as we can see in black and white from CMS’s letter to the state, this was not the case.  As the chair of this special committee, I will work to look at issues of concern and find solutions for our clients and staff at Riverview.”

The committee is made up of nine lawmakers and is scheduled for its’ first meeting on November 12.

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