Settlement reached in Nevada busing of mental patients to California
The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services reached a $400,000 settlement with the City of San Francisco over Nevada's busing of indigent mental patients to the city in years past.
The settlement includes attorney fees for San Francisco and still has to be approved by Nevada's Board of Examiners and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, according to Gov. Brian Sandoval's office.
Sandoval said the agreement includes mandates for both parties concerning patient management and movement practices and will bring an amicable end to the matter.
"The settlement will also validate the patient management best practices and procedures which Nevada has had in place for two years," Sandoval said in a statement.
"We look forward to working with California to ensure all patient transfers to and from both states are managed using these best practices and adhering to conditions detailed in the agreement."
If approved, the settlement would be paid for from the Tort Claim Fund from the Office of the Attorney General.
About 500 mentally ill patients were sent to California, including 36 to San Francisco, City Attorney Dennis Herrera said in 2013.
Nevada officials said the new reciprocal agreements are necessary, because the City of San Francisco also transports homeless patients as part of its Homeward Bound program. Between 2013 and 2015, the program paid the travel expenses of 1,614 persons, according to the San Francisco Examiner. The city maintains the program ensures that patients are taken in by family members or friends.
The next state Board of Examiners meeting is scheduled for Oct. 13.
Contact Wesley Juhl at wjuhl@reviewjournal.com and 702-383-0391. Find him on Twitter: @WesJuhl
