THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 3, 1995 TAG: 9510030248
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: ELECTION '95
LENGTH: Long : 108 lines
What is the state's responsibility when it comes to providing specialized, demanding forms of health care?
In particular, today we are asking candidates what the government should do about care for the least fortunate - in this case, mentally disabled people.
The background:
Gov. George F. Allen has proposed reducing funding for services to mentally disabled people and turning some of those duties over to private industry, a process known as ``privatization.''
The proposal also would have eliminated local community service boards, which have been responsible for many of those services.
Allen's commissioner of mental health, Thomas Kelly, suggested a pilot program in Southeastern Virginia that would have affected about 25 percent of the clients of Virginia's mental health system. That proposal has since been withdrawn.
Privatization is being used to run prisons, hospitals and other formerly government-managed facilities across the state and nation. Its proponents maintain that the need to operate profitably means such private operations are run with less waste than government.
Opponents of privatization, however, argue that private companies are less answerable to the public and more likely to charge high fees in order to make a profit.
K.A. Crenshaw of Chesapeake is not sure whether it's the answer in this situation.
``The people served by the Community Service Board are the people least likely to be able to afford going into private facilities,'' she said.
Crenshaw believes the current system provides local control and state accountability.
The question:
``What is your position on the state's traditional responsibility for care, treatment and training of its citizens who need mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse services?'' Crenshaw asked candidates seeking her vote.
They are: in the 14th Senate District, Sen. Mark L. Earley, a Republican, and Mark W. Walker, an independent; and in the 78th House District, Del. J. Randy Forbes, a Republican, and Wayne T. Baker, an independent.
The answers:
Earley: ``Cost containment is an important goal, and privatization is acceptable up to a certain point; however, as Virginia approaches the redesign of its publicly funded mental health care system, we must have a clear understanding of how the public interests will be served through change.
``It is important to note that by utilizing public and private partnerships, community service boards are providing a broad array of services in a cost-effective and efficient manner.
``The Chesapeake CSB and the Virginia Beach CSB utilize 20 percent of their budgets to purchase services from private providers.
``This trend is reflected statewide where 450 private vendors provide 20 percent of the CSB services.
``These public-private partnerships enable the Virginia system to maintain its community-based service integration planning and decision making, while enhancing service delivery by providing quality and cost efficient services.''
Walker: ``If the elderly and disabled feel they are being attacked, that's because they are. The government does have responsibility to make sure people have adequate care and not to kill them off. I don't believe the governor may realize the consequences of his program, which is essentially genocide.
``I believe the state should maintain responsibility for mental health care. I do not think it was a good idea to propose turning it over to private companies.''
Forbes: ``There are many areas of state government which merit study as to whether services can be delivered better and more efficiently if privatization of those services took place. However, at this time I have not yet been persuaded by the data I have received that we should privatize the state's mental health service.''
Baker: ``It is the responsibility of government to ensure that every citizen who needs health care gets it. The American system of health care, at its best in the past, was based on a combination of public institutions - public hospitals, public government-funded clinics and a system of voluntary hospitals and clinics - that is, private institutions which entered into public service in cooperation with government under certain regulations.
``Health care for all depends on our economic recovery and an expansion of the nation's hospitals and public health care systems. We need more quality facilities and more technology available per person per community.
``The government is mandated to promote the general welfare, and I agree on federal and state cooperation, concentrating on medical infrastructure, in order to ensure adequate health care for everyone in our communities. Let us clean up the mess by putting people back into productive jobs, thereby increasing the revenue base, and understanding that real cost efficiency is not in budget cutting, but in preserving healthy and productive lives.''< MEMO: Staff writer Tony Wharton compiled this column.
``You Asked'' is a regular feature of The Virginian-Pilot's coverage
of the 1995 General Assembly elections. Readers can send in questions to
be asked of the candidates in their districts.
ILLUSTRATION: You Asked...
[Form]
[For a copy of the form to submit questions, see microfilm for this
date.]
From left, running in the 14th Senate District, Sen. Mark L. Earley
and Mark W. Walker, independent. Running in the 78th House District
are Del. J. Randy Forbes, a Republican, and Wayne T. Baker,
independent.
by CNB