The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities plays a crucial role in the state of Georgia, managing a variety of responsibilities aimed at supporting individuals with mental health conditions, substance use disorders, and developmental disabilities. Among its many duties, the Department operates five state psychiatric hospitals and provides evaluation and treatment for individuals within the court system to assess their competency to stand trial. Additionally, the Department offers vital community-based services for Georgians in need, ensuring that they receive appropriate support in their daily lives.
Governor Kemp’s 2025 Fiscal Year budget proposal allocates $1.6 billion in state funds to the Department. This proposal reflects a significant increase of $139 million, or 9%, compared to the original fiscal year 2024 budget. A substantial portion of this increase focuses on enhancing home- and community-based services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as raising compensation for their dedicated providers. By prioritizing these areas, the Department aims to improve service delivery and workforce conditions, which are essential for meeting the needs of the population it serves.
Among the proposed enhancements is a one-time $1,000 bonus for employees, accompanied by a cost-of-living adjustment designed to help retain staff and fill vacancies. Commissioner Tanner highlighted the pressing need for these measures, referring to the current situation as “a state of emergency when it comes to our state workforce.” Such statements underscore the critical nature of the challenges faced by the Department as it strives to maintain a robust workforce committed to supporting those in need.
Amended Fiscal Year 2024 Budget
Fiscal Year 2025 Budget
A $11 million decrease for core mental health services reflects workforce shortages at community service boards and a reduction in the utilization of private psychiatric beds due to increased capacity at state hospitals.
The Department’s budget is poised to benefit significantly if the state fully expands Medicaid. Under the ‘Adult Mental Health Services’ line item, the Department funds evaluation, treatment, crisis stabilization, and residential treatment for adults living with mental health conditions. Over the past decade, adult mental health services have accounted for approximately 37% of the Department’s state general funds. Most of these services are provided to individuals without access to healthcare coverage, placing a considerable financial burden on the state.
For example, the Department supports 22 community service boards across Georgia that deliver community-based mental health and addiction services to roughly 120,000 adults—many of whom are uninsured or have limited financial means. If Medicaid expansion occurs, a greater number of uninsured Georgians would gain access to essential healthcare coverage, with the federal government absorbing 90% of the associated costs. This development could enable the state to recover some of its expenditures, allowing for potential reallocations to address other pressing needs.
More than 1 in 4 Georgians currently in the coverage gap are believed to have a behavioral health condition. States that have already expanded Medicaid coverage to adults earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level have documented a range of benefits, including increased access to mental health services, reduced psychological distress among low-income individuals, lowered suicide rates, and enhanced participation of behavioral health providers in Medicaid.
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