By Tom Gogola, The Lens staff writer | New Orleans city officials are aggressively pushing back against a “devastating” proposed $15 million cut to inpatient mental health and substance abuse services now being offered at LSU Interim Hospital. The cuts were included in Gov. Bobby Jindal’s recent budget, and they are part of an effort to close a $251 million state budget shortfall this year. The plan includes a $34 million hit on hospitals statewide. The proposed cuts at LSU’s operations in New Orleans include:
The Criminal Justice Committee of the City Council met Wednesday afternoon to talk about the cuts and their potential impacts on New Orleans’ most vulnerable populations, most of who are not criminals. But many mentally ill people end up in jail when services are slashed.
