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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-069RESOLUTION NO. 2000- 069 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY URGING THE GOVERNOR TO STOP THE CLOSING OF G. PIERCE WOOD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IN DESOTO COUNTY WHEREAS, G. Pierce Wood Memorial Hospital has been a state facility in DeSoto County since 1947; and WHEREAS, G. Pierce Wood Memorial Hospital serves the mental health care needs of the most severely impaired patients in eighteen counties in South Florida which include Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Okeechobee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, St. Lucie and Sarasota; and WHEREAS, the Governor and the Department of Children and Families proposed a plan that will close G. Pierce Wood Memorial Hospital; and WHEREAS, the closing of G. Pierce Wood Memorial Hospital would create a monumental mental health crisis in the eighteen counties; and WHEREAS, when Charter Glade Hospital closes in about two weeks, the burden of providing mental care in Southwest Florida will be severely compounded; and WHEREAS, the Department of Children and Families did not request the additional funding which is needed to overcome the cut in the disproportionate share of Medicare by the federal government for mental health care needs. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA that the County unanimously supports the needs of the community and urges the Governor to stop the closing of G. Pierce Wood Memorial Hospital in DeSoto County, investigate the trend across this nation that is moving mental health away from community-based facilities and increase the funding of mental health care to permit G. Pierce Wood Memorial Hospital to serve the needs of eighteen counties in South Florida. • • RESOLUTION NO. -2000- 069 The Resolution was moved by Commissioner Gi nn and seconded by CommissionerStanbri dae , and upon being put to a vote, the vote was as follows: Chairman Fran B. Adams Aye Vice Chairman Caroline D. Ginn Aye Commissioner Ruth Stanbridge Aye Commissioner John W. Tippin Aye Commissioner Kenneth R. Macht Aye The Chairman thereupon declared the resolution duly passed and adopted this 20th day of June, 2000. Attest Jeffrey K. Barton, Clerk. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA f r Caroline D. Ginn, Vice C airman BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS -070 - OU 1840 25th Street, Vero Beach, Florida 32960 Telephone. (561) 567.8000 June 22, 2000 The Honorable Jeb Bush The Capitol Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001 Dear Governor Bush: At the Commission meeting of June 20, 2000, the Indian River County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to pass the attached Resolution #2000-069, opposing the closing of G. Pierce Wood Memorial Hospital. We urge you to increase the funding of mental health care to permit G. Pierce Wood Memorial Hospital to continue serving the needs of eighteen counties in South Florida, including Indian River County. We understanding it is planned to move the most severely impaired patients to other mental health hospitals in Florida and place the rest in community-based mental health care facilities in neighborhood homes. It is important that funding for the discharged patients follow them, but due to a loss of Medicaid dollars it is anticipated only about $10 million of the total G. Pierce Wood Memorial Hospital budget will ever make it into the community programs. Thank you for your consideration of this request. Yours truly, Fran B. Adams Chairman Indian River County Commission FBA:rs Enc.