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Grading the States 2009 Report Card: West Virginia
In 2006, West Virginia’s mental health care system received a D grade. Three years later, the grade has fallen to an F. An already inadequate system is deteriorating. One reason is the horrendous redesign of its Medicaid program. Full narrative (PDF).
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Health Promotion and Measurement: D 25% of Total Grade
Basic measures, such as the number of programs delivering evidence-based practices,
emergency room wait-times, and the quantity of psychiatric beds by setting.
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Financing & Core Treatment/Recovery Services: F 45% of Total Grade
A variety of financing measures, such as whether Medicaid reimburses providers for all, or part of evidence-based practices; and more.
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Consumer & Family Empowerment: F 15% of Total Grade
Includes measures such as consumer and family access to essential information from the
state, promotion of consumer-run programs, and family and peer education and support.
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Community Integration and Social Inclusion: F 15% of Total Grade
Includes activities that require collaboration among state mental health agencies and other state agencies and systems.
Innovations
- West Virginia Mental Health Consumers Association programs
- One mental health court
Urgent Needs
- Redesign Medicaid plan—the right way
- Evidence-based practices
- Supportive housing and workforce development
- Crisis intervention, jail diversion, and reentry programs
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"Services are difficult to locate, and persons employed do not seem to always know what is available or even how to readily access those services. People are continually being told that funding has been cut."
"I have lost my Medicaid since my child is now over 18. We cannot afford to get insurance, so I am weaning myself off my meds and will be ‘winging’ it..."
"The state is in ‘crisis’ in regards to the overuse of inpatient facilities."
