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Mentally Ill Patients Have More Places to Stay

February 24, 1997
By: Missy Shelton
State Capital Bureau

The House passed a measure allowing nursing homes to care for mentally ill patients.

Missy Shelton has the story from Jefferson City.

Story:Missy Shelton
RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

The bill is designed to give mentally ill patients more safe places to live.

Current legislation bars nursing homes from caring for these patients.

Some legislators oppose the bill saying it will be costly for nursing homes to meet requirements set out in the bill.

But bill sponsor St. Louis County Representative Lana Stokan says facilities will decide.

Actuality: Lana Stokan
RunTime:
OutCue: "...private industry decision."
Contents: "If that business makes the choice to voluntarily include people with dementia, that is their private industry decision."

Stokan says some facilities are ready to care for these patients...they just need the go-ahead from the state.

From Jefferson City, I'm Missy Shelton.