Summer 1997

I'm writing this with mixed feelings a few days after the Legislature adjourned. Given what I considered rather compelling arguments many of you made to various legislators justifying the need for at least maintenance level funding for the next biennium, I feel a sense of disappointment that we will have less money to work with each year. The primary objective was to achieve an appropriation that averaged at least $1.7 million in order to continue to provide a range of important services. These include: treatment services for compulsive gamblers and their families, the hotline, public education and prevention programs for both adults and kids, a little bit of research and a modest level of treatment outcomes evaluation, some financial help to people needing additional counselor training and support for the work of the department's advisory committee.

For a variety of reasons we fell short. While most had nothing to do with the programs per se, one was directly related. Simply put, we were not able to convince enough legislators that treatment works and is a wise investment of public funds. The bottom line from a dollar standpoint is that $1,425,000 was appropriated from the lottery for state fiscal year (SFY) 1998, July 1, 1997 through June 30, 1998, and $1,275,000 also from the lottery for SFY 99, July 1, 1998 through June 30, 1999 for a biennial total of $2,700,000.

The legislature also made two major policy changes directly related to gambling programs. First, the establishment of standards for treatment and provider qualifications is now mandated. Formal work to develop them will begin sometime this fall. Second, the department is required to change the way the six treatment programs get paid for their servicesconverting from the existing grant based funding to an individual client fee-for-service reimbursement system over a two year period. This is modeled after the pilot project started in Southeast Minnesota last November. Beginning July 1, 1999, any payments by the state toward the costs of a person's treatment will be made through a fee-for-service reimbursement mechanism. This will not only increase geographic accessibility, but require adding to the pool of adequately trained counselors who can qualify as eligible vendors.

In addition, while none of the bills calling for the extension/expansion of gambling succeeded, stay tuned. I believe that possibility will be re-visited either during the interim discussions concerning the stadium and arena issues/or during the 1998 session. It is also possible that SF1615/HF2123 will be re-introduced. Though not heard this year, they are far reaching, filling many of the gaps we now have in our continuum of services as well as strengthening the focus on youth and cultural diversity. I encourage you to read them. (Call the Hotline for a copy or find them on the internet at www.miph.org/gambling.)

In closing, notwithstanding the sense of disappointment I expressed earlier, there were a number of positive outcomes that I believe will serve us well in coming legislative sessions. Although not necessarily reflected during committee discussions, the range of public discourse about gambling did expand. As a result, I believe the number of legislators that understand the "downside" of the gambling industry has increased and, most importantly, better understand that funding for public education, prevention, treatment, research, etc., is not only a sound management decision, it is also sound public policy. The effects of gambling -positive or negative- reach every nook and cranny of Minnesota.

In essence, I'm much more optimistic than doubtful. A final report on the effectiveness of treatment will be available on July 24. I'm confident we will learn helpful information about the impact of treatment. We'll be better able to explain how treatment helps the gambler, his/her family and the community. And we'll likely learn how we can improve our services. This sessions didnt dampen my resolve although it did test my patience and sense of timing. Collectively we'll get there if each of us can spread the word about the value of all the gambling related services we provide. There is simply too much at stake for too many people to believe otherwise. I hope you agree.

-Jay Bambery
Department of Human Services