Washington looks to end case over care for mentally ill
Officials are working to settle a federal court case in which Washington has racked up nearly $50 million in fines for not providing faster care to mentally-ill defendants.
The News Tribune reports the details of an eventual settlement are still being negotiated but it appears the state will agree to pursue upgrades to the state’s mental health system.
An agreement between the Department of Social and Health Services and the advocacy group Disability Rights Washington in February says the two groups believe collaborating on broad reforms to the mental health system will bring compliance with the court faster than the current status quo of “litigation of piecemeal issues.”
A Democratic supplemental budget proposal released Monday says an extra $163 million would be spent on the mental health system.
