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Thousands of mentally ill patients in Missouri go untreated

November 25, 1997
By: Beejal Patel
State Capitol Bureau

Tens of thousands of mentally ill patients across the state are not receiving the treatment they need. That's according to the latest update from the Department of Mental Health. From Jefferson City, Beejal Patel has the story.

Story:
RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

Those figures were presented to the mental health committee, which is just getting started in figuring out ways to help Missourians suffering from mental illnesses.

State mental health department officials told the committee the department is unable to meet the needs of more than 75% of mentally ill people, largely because of lack of funding.

Saint Louis County Senator Betty Sims said the data is disturbing.

Actuality: Sims
RunTime: :15
OutCue: "bottom of the barrel."
Contents: As data comes in, you realize we're serving 28,000 people when there is really maybe 280,000 with alcohol and drug abuse problems out of a population of 5.5 million. We're not even touching the bottom of the barrel.

Lawmakers are looking into whether or not they should require private insurance companies to offer coverage under regular health insurance.

Senator Jerry Howard: 50

whether or not we should encourage private ins comp[anies to provide more mental health services

could create packages to people who buy private insurance products