State commission recommends cutting two mental health institutes

The state commission that’s trying to find ways to cut spending is recommending the state close two of its four mental health institutions. Bob Raferty chairs the Program Elimination Commission, and says Iowa can get by with half the institutions.He says the institutions are tending to specialize, so people are already driving and it wouldn’t create a big access issue. He says there could be several millions of dollars in savings. The four institutes are in Clarinda, Mount Pleasant, Cherokee and Independence. Raferty says the commission is not recommending which institutes should be closed. The legislature will consider the proposal when it meets in January.