Though too much copper can pose a danger to your health, it's important to note that copper is a necessary dietary ingredient in moderation. "Ingesting copper is not entirely bad," explain KHN experts. "It's found in shellfish, beans, nuts, and whole grains and sold in dietary supplements. It's been shown to help prevent anemia and osteoporosis, among other ailments," they add.
However, consuming unsafe levels over long periods of time can lead to serious symptoms, and can ultimately result in kidney failure in severe cases. People with copper poisoning may experience nausea, dizziness, headaches, diarrhea, and irritation to the mouth, nose, and eyes, says WebMD.
Includes $27.5 Million to Increase Funding for Inpatient Psychiatric Hospital Beds
$9 Million for Recruiting Psychiatrists and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners
$12.5 Million Annually for 500 Additional Supportive Housing Beds to House People Experiencing Homelessness
Investments Build on Governor Hochul’s $10 Billion Plan to Improve Health Care System, Including a $577 Million Increase for Community Mental Health Programs and Services
Governor Kathy Hochul, at an event with New York City Mayor Eric Adams, announced major investments to help improve access to acute mental health care and hospital psychiatric beds across New York State. The initiatives are part of a plan to provide the necessary support and services for people with serious mental illness experiencing homelessness, as well as others in crisis. The investments include $27.5 million annually to increase funding for inpatient psychiatric beds; $9 million annually to recruit psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners; and $12.5 million annually for 500 additional supportive housing beds to house people experiencing homelessness in their communities.
“For too long our mental healthcare system suffered from disinvestment, and the pandemic has only made things harder for New Yorkers with serious mental illness who are experiencing homelessness,” Governor Hochul said. “I am proud to stand with Mayor Adams and share our efforts to boost mental health treatment services for those who lack stable housing, and bring more psychiatric beds online. We must work together to keep our subways — the lifeblood of New York City — safe for all riders, and to get help and services to those in need.”
Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “Governor Hochul’s proposed budget and the initiatives she is implementing are truly historic and will greatly strengthen the mental health care safety net in New York. The actions she is announcing today, and the collaborative approach she is taking with Mayor Adams, will help provide services quickly and effectively to people experiencing a mental health crisis.”
One cause of the shortage of psychiatric beds in New York City and across the state is lower Medicaid reimbursement for inpatient psychiatric care compared to medical/surgical beds. The $27.5 million investment would increase the current Medicaid for psychiatric beds by 20% and would help bring beds back online for psychiatric use, including more than 600 in New York City.
A second challenge with reestablishing psychiatric beds is the nation-wide shortage of psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners. Governor Hochul is committing $9 million annually to establish a loan forgiveness program to recruit these mental health practitioners into the community-based mental health workforce.
The investment of $12.5 million annually for 500 additional supportive housing beds will help to more quickly transition those in crisis from the streets, subways and shelters to stable housing. These units will give the State the additional resources it will need as the Governor’s Safe Options Support teams come online in the Spring. These additional units will complement the 10,000 units of supportive housing announced in the Governor’s $25 billion housing plan.
These investments will build on the Governor’s $10 billion plan to improve the health care system and proposed budget, which includes a historic $577 million (17.2%) increase for critically important community mental health programs and services.