Morano questions whether general population is clinically appropriate

We're going to go to Councilmember Marano.

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you all for your testimony.

I'd love to begin with Dr.

Otonashar.

You testified that most people with mental health needs are appropriately housed in general population.

And I want to be very precise about the word appropriately.

When CHS says someone is appropriately housed in general population, does that mean CHS believes general population is the clinically best placement?

Or can it mean it's simply the best placement currently available?

So we continuously assess throughout an individual's incarceration what their clinical needs are, how closely they need to be monitored.

Similar to the community standard, patients who are able to function higher and less in distress are able to be brought to their appointment similar to the way you and I would go to an outpatient clinic.

For those individuals who are more vulnerable, who benefit from closer monitoring, who benefit from

greater support, we would transfer those patients onto a therapeutic housing unit until those needs are stabilized.

And we often will keep them there indefinitely.

So specifically, among people with serious mental illness who are currently in general population, how many would be in a more therapeutic setting if every clinically appropriate bed were available today?

Can you rephrase your question?

So among people with serious mental illness who are currently in general population,

how many would be in a more therapeutic setting if every clinically appropriate bed were available today?

We consistently do assess the needs and assign patients to whatever level of care is appropriate.

Currently, all patients who require a particular level of care are transferred to that level of care.

So what we have is sufficient.

Particularly understanding.

I think another way of thinking about it, there's currently 24 patients who are waiting placement on a PACE unit, so they do require a higher level of care.

We had an influx of hospital returns, and so those individuals are being closely monitored on MO, but they do require PACE.

But I do think it's a common misconception that anyone who has a serious mental illness requires a residential treatment level of care.

So GP is...

Clinically appropriate.