Comments

[Deprogrammed]

I sent a comment but it says that it is subject to approval. So, we shall see.
-DP

[Anonymous]

Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2008 2:06 PM
To: Ballenger, Kendra L
Subject: Re: PFC Sharing Interstate Host Homes

Dear Kendra,

The clients who were moved were already signed into PFC in Milford Ohio. They were already placed in treatment. Their records were kept in Ohio. Note that none of this recent moving activity was reported to any agency prior to its commencement even though rules are established that require this type of communication. Furthermore, there have been no new corporate records filed in Indiana by a foreign corporation from Ohio using the name of PFC to conduct business in Indiana.

According to the Indiana codes, DMHA certification only applies to Indiana programs, not Ohio programs. Why is an out of state program allowed to treat their outpatient clients in your state without any oversight? Not only that, but these outpatient Ohio PFC clients are staying in Indiana PFC host homes and not in their Ohio homes. That makes it impossible for the Ohio program to be operating as an outpatient program.

I have asked employees of licensing agencies in other states if they have ever heard of this kind of outpatient drug treatment activity and they have not.

There is nothing I see in the PFC admission paperwork that warns parents that they may have to host out of state outpatient clients. This practice should be immediately stopped, the clients should be returned to Ohio and if PFC will not treat them in Milford, they should be released.

Sincerely,

William Earnshaw, Sr.
President, ISAC Corporation
www.isaccorp.org

And then the DMHA response today...


Mr. Earnshaw-
DMHA has conducted a review of the complaints outlined in your email.  Violation of DMHA certification rules has not been substantiated at this time.  As has been communicated previously, interstate placement/services (including the prohibition of) are not are not spoken to in 440 IAC 4.4.  As has also been communicated, PFC host homes are outside of the scope of DMHA authority.
Thank you

Kendra Ballenger
Assistant Deputy Director
Licensure, Certification and Contract Compliance
FSSA/Division of Mental Health and Addiction



The ODADAS response I've heard thus far to this issue has been silence... normally a sign that a target was hit but what exactly that was, only they know.

[psy]

"ain't my jurisdiction" is a little bit like tech support saying "can you hold please while I transfer you"(around in circles).

[Ursus]

Is there a parent willing to sue them on this issue? That kinda makes them clean up their act right quick.

[Antigen]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Be3alRoxkOo

[Anonymous]

The kids one morning woke up in Ohio, went to the building, came home to some stranger's house in Indiana. The way I interpret this is while somewhat predictable, the codes or laws per se in Indiana don't appear to cover this sort of thing so there's no problem... or so this DMHA seems to think. The reply that has yet to arrive, from ODADAS in Ohio, will most likely be even more perplexing, as the program has never been cited by them for any wrongdoing pointed out by a 3rd party. If we wait for people to sue and all that, well, it's that much longer the kids won't have a chance. I really would like to hear other ideas, approaches, etc. that would get these people held accountable for once. Legislation? Would PFC be grandfathered though? They've spent way too many years squeezing between laws that don't exist and ones that are not specific. Time's oughtta change!

[hurrikayne]

That was awesome.  Heh.  I love it when I have 'real' problems at work & the IT people are new.  They want to tell me to run through all the basics first.  I tell them I did all of that, they don't believe me, they want me to do it all again; then eventually they realize that I DID do all the basic stuff & then some & they go, "Wow, you do have a problem."  No shit Sherlock, why the hell do you think I bothered calling you???