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Legislative report blasts Human Services over behavioral health (SF New Mex)

Legislative report blasts Human Services over behavioral health

Updated

The Legislative Finance Committee issued a scathing report Wednesday that said New Mexico’s system of treating addicts and people with mental health problems is so broken that only 11 percent of the budget is spent on effective programs.

“The state does not have a comprehensive grasp on how it spends the estimated $209 million on adult behavioral health,” the report stated.

It also said the state Human Services Department doesn’t know whether it is funding proven programs, whether they are offered in areas with the greatest need and if they are delivering good results.

Matt Kennicott, a spokesman for the Human Services Department, said the committee’s conclusions were off base and made without an opportunity for an adequate response to legislators.

Read more here: http://m.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/legislative-report-blasts-human-services-over-behavioral-health/article_37925bbf-cbd4-57f9-b932-4f7bb254b815.html?mode=jqm