Lawmakers Considering Privatizing State Hospital

Apr 03, 2008 by Elizabeth Ziegler

(KCPW News) The Legislature is once again looking at privatizing Utah's only state-run mental health facility. The Health and Human Services Interim Committee is scheduled to study the issue this summer, even though a recent legislative audit found no serious problems with the hospital.

"A lot of times we let good be the enemy of better," says Davis County Senator Sheldon Killpack, who has requested the interim study. "And I guess sometimes I wonder why we are so scared to at least have the study to see what options are available. And if it is truly doing everything and it is a smashing success and they are firing on all pistons then there's nothing to be concerned over."

Killpack also opened a bill file this past Legislative session to allow private contractors to submit proposals to operate the facility. He abandoned the effort, though, to allow the Legislature to conduct the interim study. State Hospital Administrator Dallas Earnshaw says lawmakers are being enticed by Florida-based GEO Care, which has promised to replace two outdated hospital buildings for free. Earnshaw says lawmakers are risking a proven system that will continue to benefit the state into the future for $52 million - the cost to construct the new buildings.

"It's a very risky business decision," Earnshaw says. "And we don't think you should take that long term of a risk based on the fact you can build one building for the state. And you know they're a publicly traded company and so they are out to make money for their stockholders, and it just gets concerning when you look at profit as a motivation rather than quality of care."

The Health and Human Services Interim Committee next meets from 2 to 5 p.m. on April 16. The State Hospital privatization study is not on the agenda, but the issue could come up during the discussion on the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the hospital.

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