I have examined where my loyalties lie, you judge, I'll explain my position.

[Divernan]

46. It had to cost more - adding in that layer of profit for privatizing.

Last edited Thu Mar 10, 2016, 05:59 PM - Edit history (3)

The states had residential centers for the mentally ill and separate centers for the mentally retarded - many of whom also had physical disabilities.

California was the first to close them down and farm people out to privately owned chains of "group homes". Major problem was that "residents" had next to no supervision, got off their meds (which had unpleasant side effects, i.e., the "thorazine shuffle"; had next to no therapies; untrained caregivers; often wandered off and absences were not even noted. In the 90's, Pennsylvania decided to do the same thing - close down the centers. I was executive director and legal counsel for a special legislative task force trying to anticipate the problems of privatization and justify keeping the state systems open. I researched the California outcome and was horrified - had nightmares for months.

There was an unholy marriage of those seeking to privatize and profit from the system and lobbying ($$$$) Governor Tom Ridge for same, and do-gooder, well-intentioned advocacy groups for the mentally ill and mentally retarded.

"OH, they'll live in cozy little group homes; like a family setting; and they'll be free to participate in the community and be part of the community." Their lives will be just wonderful! Not. At. All.

Most ended up being shipped to the opposite ends of the state from where their families were, so visits and outside observations were rare; the small towns or larger city neighborhoods did NOT welcome the presence of these group homes, so the yards were fenced in with 6 foot high wire fencing and property values went down. The residents did not end up joining churches or getting library cards, etc.

As far as medical/dental treatment, the state centers had specialists trained and skilled at interacting with the patient population. Out in the communities, doctors and dentists refused to even accept them as patients because (1) the patients had the potential to panic, lash out and harm the medical personnel and (2) other patients did not want to be in the waiting room with them and their attendants. Medical problems were allowed to progress until the ER was the treatment center of choice.

Instead of all the recreational and therapy programs at the state centers, the patients ended up sitting in small living rooms watching the tee vee day after day. I read descriptions and police reports of many horrible incidents. And the state oversight regulations were absolutely de minimis and toothless. The only incident triggering notification of next of kin was death. No notifications for patients/residents being beaten, tortured, sold for prostitution, or raped by their minimum wage attendants, fellow residents, friends or relatives of attendants (who stopped by for free food, reducing the amount available to the residents), or relatives of other residents - all of which happened. No notification for accidents or illnesses, even when they resulted in hospitalizations. No notifications if a resident just wandered off and disappeared.

In Pennsylvania, the Dept. of Public Welfare had oversight responsibilities. What a joke! Ten percent of the facilities were to be inspected every year. Guess what. The same facilities were usually inspected - repeatedly, such that most facilities were NEVER inspected, PLUS THEY WERE ALWAYS GIVEN ADVANCE NOTICE OF INSPECTIONS. Even when negligence by the caretakers resulted in deaths, no group home was ever shut down and no fines were assessed. The punishment consisted of their ratings being reduced one level.

That was back in the day before the religious right took over the GOP. All of the members of the task force, both Republicans and Democrats, agreed that we should keep the state facilities open, but Governor Tom Ridge had accepted $$$ from the private care industries and he would not reverse his decision. At that time he was planning to run for president and he sold out the state left, right and sideways to build up his war chest for a national campaign. One way was allowing other states to truck their trash in and dump it in Pennsylvania. Our state motto should have been Pennsylvania! America Dumps Here!

But returning to your question, it possibly was a little cheaper for the taxpayers, because as with all privatizations, corners were cut on the expense side, such as staff and food. No dieticians - just feed em pizza. ( One resident died after an untrained attendant shoved regular food through his feeding tube.) The staff at the state centers was well-trained, with very low turnover rates, and unionized. They actually took pride in their work. After privatization, the real dregs got hired - literally people too stupid/unreliable to be hired at McDonald's.

Aren't you sorry you asked? Like I said, I had nightmares for a long time from investigating all of that.