Lawmakers, Advocates Debate Psychiatric Facility Proposal

Gov. Paul LePage’s proposal to build a new psychiatric facility drew support and opposition at a public hearing Thursday.

Some questioned the authority of the governor to build and operate the facility — which would handle patients in state custody who no longer need the hospital-level care they get at the Riverview Psychiatric Center — without specific legislative approval.

“We do not believe that the department can operate an new program like the step-down facility without financial and other backing from the Legislature,” says Omi Amarasingham, policy director at the ACLU of Maine.

The need for a facility was supported by several at the hearing, even though most complained of a lack of detail to the proposals.

Read more: http://mainepublic.org/post/lawmakers-advocates-debate-psychiatric-facility-proposal