HARRISBURG —
The Department of Corrections is considering whether to privatize mental health care in the state prison system, a move that would eliminate the jobs of 187 prison employees across Pennsylvania.
The Department of Corrections already uses outside workers for psychiatric care through a six-year contract with MHM Correctional Services of Virginia. The state paid that company $19.8 million in 2012-13 for psychiatric services in the state prison system. With that contract expiring later this year, the prison system has asked contractors to make bids to add the psychological services, Corrections spokeswoman Susan McNaughton said.
McNaughton said that since psychology and psychiatric services are so closely related, it is natural to explore whether the same contractor can provide both services.
“The Department of Corrections will look to reduce costs in providing necessary services, including possible privatization of services while seeking outcome performance measures,” she said.
The affected jobs include: Licensed psychologist managers, licensed psychologists, psychological services specialists and psychological services associates.
The top-earning licensed psychologist manager was paid $85,626 in 2012, online government records show.
The top-earning licensed psychologist was paid $76,824 last year.
The top-earning psychological services specialist was paid $75,274.
The top-earning psychological services associate was paid $64,479 last year.
It is the second consecutive year that the prison system has flirted with privatization. Last year the department tried to outsource nursing jobs. But after lawmakers balked, that effort was scuttled.
“(Gov. Tom) Corbett is throwing everything at the wall and just hoping that something sticks, as far as privatization goes,” said Kathy Jellison, president of SEIU Local 668, the Pennsylvania Social Services Union.
Local 668 represents most of the prison employees who would lose their state jobs if the mental health services are moved to an outside employer.
These mental health employees “deal with the most dangerous criminals, rapists and murderers,” Jellison said. There is a clear public interest in the matter because mental health staff play a key role in determining when inmates are ready to be released back into society, Jellison said.
“This is a core function of government,” Jellison said.
State Rep. Mike Fleck, R-Huntingdon, has been circulating a memo seeking support for a bill to halt the privatization of mental health services.
That bill has not been introduced in the Legislature yet, but lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are lining up behind Fleck to oppose the privatization bid.
“I have real concerns about it,” said state Rep. Kurt Masser, R-Northumberland, whose district includes SCI-Coal Township. “This is a public safety issue.”
State Rep. Mark Longietti, D-Mercer, said he is worried that the Department of Corrections would be replacing veteran staff with very unique expertise with private contractors.
McNaughton said there is a chance that the prison workers would land jobs with any private contractor selected to provide the same service.
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