The state of Kansas is scrambling to regain federal funding for one of its psychiatric hospitals and to prevent the decertification of another.
Officials at the agency responsible for the state’s mental health hospitals say they’re confident that the renovations needed to fix problems at the Larned State Hospital, problems turned up by a recent inspection, will be completed in time to avoid a threatened loss of federal funding in January.
The renovations, aimed at reducing the risk of patients hanging or strangling themselves, are expected to cost about $1 million.
Similar issues documented in 2015 led federal officials to decertify the Osawatomie State Hospital. It passed a recent inspection but has yet to be recertified.
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Jim McLean is managing director of KMUW's Kansas News Service, a collaboration of KMUW, Kansas Public Radio and KCUR covering health, education and politics in Kansas. Follow him on Twitter @jmcleanks.
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