A psychiatric hospital in Nevada has allegedly released patients and then bused them across state lines. The accusations has prompted a federal warning and more than one investigation—especially two in California, the number one destination for the bused patients, according to Fox News.
Authorities began looking into the Rawson Neal Psychiatric Hospital when a 48-year-old patient from the hospital showed up at a facility in Sacremento—no food, no medication, no contacts, no identification, no access to Social Security payments.
Gov. Brian Sandoval, R-NV, said this week that his office has started three investigations into the hospital. So far the investigations have produced disciplinary actions. However, he said the state does not participate in “patient dumping” and investigations are still ongoing.
"Let me be clear, improperly discharging one patient is one patient too many,” he said. “I take the concerns regarding Rawson-Neal Psychiatric Hospital very seriously. And it is not the policy of the state of Nevada to engage in 'patient dumping' as (has) been alleged.”
The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid sent a letter to the state Thursday, saying the hospital had “serious deficiencies” in its discharge policies and are in danger of losing federal funding if issues are not rectified in 10 days.
The Sacramento Bee investigated the incident and reviewed state records of the receipts from bus company Greyhound. According to the investigation, the hospital has spread 1,500 patients across all states in the continental United States since 2008. California received the most patients at 389.
While many mental health agencies in California are not pleased with the actions of Rawson-Neal, the policy is not illegal.
Both Los Angeles and San Francisco began their own investigation before the governor’s Tuesday statement.
Carmen Trutanich, City Attorney for Los Angeles, said Wednesday that his office’s investigation will continue.
“We are going to continue doing what we need to protect the city,” he said. “This doesn’t change the fact 150 people have been dumped on the streets of Los Angeles.”
Dennis Herrera, city attorney for San Francisco, wants records from the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services pertaining to licensing, citations, federal funding agreements, and other documents.
"Assuming the reports are true, Nevada's practice of psychiatric 'patient dumping' is shockingly inhumane and illegal,” he said.
Some, including Trutanich, have labeled cost as a possible reason for the purported busing.
The investigation by the newspaper found Nevada decreased mental-health spending by 28 percent from 2009 to 2012 while facing a budget deficit. This only hampered care since the state was already under the national average for per-patient treatment.
While investigations continue, the Joint Commission accreditation company, along with several other groups, has already been notified. The organizations are in the fact-gathering stage.
