Franklin Co. mental health board sues state over funding formula

The Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board of Franklin County is filing suit against the state, claiming that it was deprived of its share of funding for as long as a 10 years (Source: “ADAMH board to sue state over mental health funding,” Columbus Dispatch, June 29, 2009).

While the state acknowledges that its previous funding formula, which was based heavily on hospital use, was unfair to the county because ADAMH was successful at providing treatment that kept residents out of state mental hospitals.

The state is proposing that the formula fix be phased in over 10 years to avoid cutting payments to other counties. However, the county is asking for a temporary restraining order that would force the state to pay up sooner.

ADAMH officials estimate that if they are awarded the money earlier, 2,000 additional county residents would start or continue treatment in the coming year.