L'rom: Mark Johnstun

-  e-
Sent: Wednesday, June 13, 2018 12 20 PM .
1 Scott Chad 
WILCOX Richard A
Subject; Kepro, SRTF, and client impact

 

Hello Mr. Scott and Mr. wilcox,
I hope this is still your email address, as
it's been a long time since I have had contact
with either of you. I'm writing due to the
massive and rapid changes happening with regard
to the DOJ settlement, Kepro, and SRTF care in
Oregon. As we are now in the next phase of
Kepzo's scrutiny of secure programs, it appears
basically everyone who lives at Ramsey Place is
or will soon be denied for continued care and
must "step down" within the next few

months. The three most recently denied clients
did not receive notifications about these
denial decisions, so people don't even know
they've happened until the funding stops. I am

told that when the ardian of one of our
clients, sent a letter to can,
that Mr. Wilcox replied and stated the notices

are not being sent out due to computer problems
as well as a backlog of notices that have to be

sent. -- was then provided a notice
dated 6/8, the day of her letter. The whole
system is spinning toward implosion, and the
ultimate victims will be those who receive the
services. The notion that this is all being
done to recognize the civil rights of those
with mental illness is clearly inaccurate, as
many of the clients do not want to move to
lower levels or care and many of them have
long-standing histories that indicate they have
been very unsafe in less supportive
environments. As you know, those long
histories are rendered irrelevant these days,

4

as only 30 days of data are reviewed when
making authorization decisions. I don't
understand how the current system is
sustainable, as I assume there will be fallout
in the form of lawsuits and civil rights
complaints due to the lack of procedural
figalityL' When the rule calls-for proper
notification and certain periods of time to
appeal, etc, it seems unlikely that consumers,
providers, and other affected parties will just
let it go without ramifications. It is
concerning that Ramsey Place, which you
probably know is a specialized polydipsia
treatment unit, must now allow people to move
into levels of care where there is free access
to fluid because there is no natural step down
for our clients, with the very real possibility
of coma or death within days of discharge. I
feel incredibly worried about the well-being of
our most vulnerable clients, but am completely
powerless to stop the progression of this
agenda. I most certainly want it duly noted
that as a Licensed Professional Counselor who
has an ethical code to adhere to, as well as a
program Administrator with 12+ years of
specialized polydipsia treatment experience, I
cannot support the forced move of many of the
Ramsey clients and I truly believe it will
result in grievous harm up to and including
death. When legislation dictates clinical
practice, things are bound to be less effective
than when clinicians dictate it.

Thank you,
Mark Johnstun, MA, LPC
Ramsey Place SRTF