Wednesday, March 19, 2008

New Mental Health Facility in Wa. County?

From the Department of Human Services comes the following. The reason I'm posting this is in case people in our state want an opportunity to weigh in on the proposal. I'm not talking about the NIMBY (not in my back yard) crowd, but those who care about folks with mental health issues. I know there is a big push in the disability community for community based care, and I'm wondering if anyone might want to contact DHS before the 3/31 deadline for an informal hearing.

March 19, 2008
General contact: Patrick O’Neill, 971-673-2298Program contact: Jana Fussell, 971-673-1108

State issues proposed order granting certificate of need for a new psychiatric hospital in unincorporated Washington County

The Oregon Department of Human Services today issued a proposed order to Ascend Health Corporation granting a certificate of need for a 36-bed psychiatric hospital to be located at the site of the former Cedar Hills Hospital at 10300 S.W. Eastridge Street, Portland. The capital expenditure for this project is estimated to be $6,743,935.

Project approval is contingent on conditions that will help ensure access and safety.
The order issued today is a proposed order. Any affected party who takes exception to the proposed order may request the DHS Public Health Division to hold an informal hearing. If no request for a hearing is received by March 31, 2008, the proposed order will automatically become final.

State law charges DHS officials with reviewing proposals for new hospitals and nursing facilities to make sure health-care consumers don’t pay for the cost of unnecessary facilities.

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