The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has officially re-certified that Western State Hospital meets its strict federal standards as it serves approximately 900 mental patients.
The CMS decision means approximately $50 million per year in federal Medicaid and Medicare funds will continue to flow to the Lakewood hospital to be used to care for patients.
The federal surveyors confirmed we continue to provide excellent care to our patients despite reductions in force and budget cuts, said Jan Gregg, the hospitals chief executive officer.
The hospitals budget has dropped from $123 million to $119 million in the last year. Its workforce has dropped from 1,938 employees to 1,776 in the same period.
She noted that since 2001, 88 patients from the hospitals Adult Psychiatric and Gero-Medical units as well as the Program for Adaptive Living Skills (PALS) have moved from the hospital to nursing homes, boarding houses and other community-based living arrangements for support as part of the Expanding Community Services Program.
The transition into community settings has meant the closure of 4 wards, plus 30 PALS beds.
As part of their survey, the CMS team of a physician, two nurses and a social worker, examined such issues as treatment planning, medication, counseling and record keeping. The group also investigated activities for patients.
The team inspected the hospital in January and returned at the end of April.
