STAKEHOLDER GROUP TO MEET ON RIVERVIEW PSYCHIATRIC CENTER FUNDING

AUGUSTA — Top lawmakers on the Legislature’s Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee on Monday said they will weigh recommendations from a key stakeholder group to prevent the state run Riverview Psychiatric Center from losing its federal funding.

“We need to take action to ensure both patients and staff at Riverview are safe and address the concerns raised by the federal government,” said Senator Dawn Hill, D-York, the Senate Chair of the Appropriations Committee. “It is my hope that the stakeholder group will develop a comprehensive proposal to provide a long-term solution to these issues.”

Federal officials warned the state hospital that it was at risk of losing $20 million in federal funding after numerous assaults from violent patients on hospital workers led to the hospital initiating use of corrections officers and new containment techniques at the facility. They specifically identified serious problems with the hospital’s use of corrections officers in determining interventions and the use of Tasers and handcuffs to respond to non-threatening patients. The report from federal officials stated its concern that these techniques threaten the rights of patients to be free from physical or mental abuse and corporal punishment.

Following a hearing last Thursday on the matter, the Appropriations committee formed a stakeholders group to provide a comprehensive solution for the Legislature to vote on Aug. 29 when it reconvenes for special session.

“Lawmakers heard from advocates and experts that we need to take a holistic approach to addressing the federal government’s concerns about patient and worker safety at Riverview,” said Rep. Peggy Rotundo, D-Lewiston, House Chair of the Appropriations Committee. “We need to address the treatment and rehabilitation of violent offenders suffering from mental illness as well as their containment.”

The stakeholders group include advocates and experts from groups such as the Disability Rights Council, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Maine Civil Liberties Union, the Maine Hospital Association, and officials from the departments of Corrections, Health and Human Services, Bureau of Corrections.

They are expected work to broaden and amend a bill proposed by Governor Paul LePage, LD 1515, An Act to Increase the Availability of Mental Health Services, which would create a hospital level mental health unit in the Department of Corrections to address the psychiatric and security needs of offenders such as those who are incompetent to stand trial.

LD 1515, as currently drafted, is expected to cost $3 million per year. Earlier this year, the Department of Health and Human Services requested the Governor’s bill be delayed until January due to its cost.

The stakeholder group will meet Tuesday, Aug. 27 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

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