Isle mental health plan
sets date for reforms

The state and U.S. Department of Justice have agreed to Nov. 30, 2006, as the termination date of a federal consent decree ordering improvements to the state mental health system.

The state still has much to do between now and June 30, 2006 -- the date it has agreed to reach substantial compliance with a community mental health plan for patients leaving the Hawaii State Hospital, state attorneys say.

"We have a lot to do, and we intend to focus on all our commitments," Paul AuCoin, special deputy attorney general representing the state Department of Health, said yesterday. "In November our commitment will still be there, but instead of it being a commitment to the court and Justice Department, our commitment would be to the consumers and citizens of our great state."

The state developed a comprehensive community health plan in 2002 to complement the State Hospital's in-patient services and has been working to implement all aspects of the community plan since 2003.

The Hawaii State Hospital was released from court oversight in December after implementing a remedial plan. The Health Department was given until June 30, 2006, to complete the implementation of a community mental health system.

At a hearing yesterday, U.S. District Judge David Ezra said he was encouraged by the cooperation between the state and federal government and the court's monitoring team in helping the state reach compliance, and indicated he intends to sign off on the agreement.

"The beneficiaries are all of us," Ezra said.

While the agreement represents an end to federal court and Justice Department supervision of the state Adult Mental Health Division, it's also "the beginning of the road for the state to take control and take ownership of the system," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Harry Yee.

The federal government is satisfied with the state's representations about what it intends to do between now and June 2006, and that if issues remain outstanding, the state has an opportunity to address them by Nov. 30, 2006, he said.