LAWMAKERS SEEK COLLABORATION IN RESOLVING CRISIS AT RIVERVIEW
Lack of plan, no clear answers from LePage Administration
AUGUSTA—Patient treatment, worker safety, and adequate staffing at Riverview Psychiatric Center returned to the center of heightened concern for lawmakers on Wednesday during an emergency meeting convened by the Legislature’s budget and Health and Human Services committees.
The committees met to address next steps in the wake of Riverview losing $20 million in federal funds following CMS’s determination that the state did not comply with federal safety guidelines at the facility. The Federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) terminated its provider agreement with Riverview following an unannounced site visit to the facility in mid-September.
“Today’s meeting was about fulfilling the Legislature’s responsibility to work together with the Department in solving critical problems at Riverview. We expected to hear answers about how Riverview got here, why the Legislature was not kept in the loop, and what we must do going forward,” said Senator Dawn Hill of York, the Senate Chair of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee.
For the first time, lawmakers heard directly from administration officials about the loss of funds. The federal government has warned the Department of Health and Human Services for several months about ongoing human rights violations, understaffing, and management deficiencies at the hospital.
In early September, the Administration repeatedly assured lawmakers that an emergency measure, LD 1515, to expand a mental health unit in the Maine State Prison in Warren, would address the federal government’s concerns by reducing the patient load at Riverview.
House Chair Peggy Rotundo of Lewiston expressed frustration with the lack of answers provided today. “Today was a beginning but we still don’t have clear answers from the administration about how they’re going to fix this problem and how we’re going to pay for patient care in the interim,” said Rotundo.
In its 17-page document, CMS laid out a series of communiques between CMS and the Department of Health and Human Services, beginning in March 2013, in which CMS outlined its ongoing concern with the handling and co-mingling of the so-called forensic and civil patients, often citing safety concerns and lack of adequate numbers of staff.
“This comes down to staffing and money. This is what it will take to ensure the safety of the workers and to help the patients who go to Riverview to get better,” said Representative Mike Carey of Lewiston. “But if we are going to get this done, we need direct answers and more timely information from the administration.”
The administration told the committees that they would appeal the federal government’s decision. A timeline for the appeal was not provided.
“We are all pulling for the same positive outcome,” said Senator Emily Cain of Orono who is a member of the AFA committee. “We have a responsibility for, and care deeply about the patients and staff and Riverview, and the budget implications of this crisis. And it is in the spirit of resolution that we are here today seeking answers that are long overdue.”
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