From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue has announced plans for a massive reorganization of the state’s social service agencies, including the creation of a new agency  dedicated to mental health care. The proposal would do away with the state’s massive Department of Human Resources.

Perdue’s plan came as the state is undergoing a federal investigation that could force it spend millions on its mental hospitals. The federal probe came after the Atlanta Journal-Constitution attributed as many as 136 deaths of state hospital patients to neglect, abuse or poor medical treatment.

“We have reached the bottom of the barrel with mental health,” said state Sen. Renee Unterman. Members of the reorganiztion study committee said the hospital’s deficiencies played heavily on their recommendations.

See also: ‘3 finally get Social Security disability’:

Three people who had waited years for a decision on their Social Security disability claims all were granted benefits this month after being profiled in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Earlier post here.

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 28th, 2008 at 7:54 am and is filed under mental health, public health, social security. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.  Email This Post