A recent state study in Kansas has found that while the number of psychiatric treatment beds for kids has increased by 39% in the past five years, children with specialized needs are still facing barriers to accessing care. The study revealed that there is a lack of staffing available for these specialized beds, and even if facilities were fully staffed, there would still not be enough capacity to meet the demand for specialized care.
It was reported that there were 136 kids on a waiting list for treatment beds, with half of them having specialized needs. Additionally, the number of children denied a bed at least once has significantly increased over the years, with 63% of kids on the waitlist being denied in 2023. This rise in denials has been linked to the passage of juvenile justice reform bill Senate Bill 367 in 2016, which has led to an increase in children with high acuity needs in the system.
To address the gap in access to psychiatric treatment for young Kansans, options presented to legislators included workforce retention initiatives, increased reimbursement rates, investments in infrastructure, and the creation of programs for outpatient services. The estimated cost for implementing these solutions ranges from $12 million to $18 million.
The study results were presented at a legislative hearing where options for increasing access to psychiatric treatment beds for children in Kansas were discussed. It is clear that there is a pressing need for action to ensure that all children, especially those with specialized needs, have access to the mental health care they require.
Source
Photo credit kansasreflector.com