04. Conclusions
Since 2008, Texas has been investing to transform the state’s public mental health system in order to provide the right care in the right place at the right time.
To solidify this transformation envisioned within HHSC’s A Comprehensive Plan for State-Funded Inpatient Mental Health Services, it is imperative that the final $124.1M construction funding is appropriated by the 87th Texas Legislature to complete the new Austin State Hospital (ASH). The new facility is a world class design that is person-centered and facilitates a person’s transition back to their community for recovery. Texans deserve the best mental health care possible in an evidence-based setting promoting their continued well-being. This new facility will meet that goal. Appropriating this funding during the 87th Legislative Session will keep the ASH project on budget and on schedule, with an opening date of June 2023. With the continued support of the 87th Legislature, Texas will have a world class facility serving Central and Southeastern Texas.
The new ASH will be a catalyst enhancing the mental health system of Texas. ASH is a key member of the continuum of care.
Building the new ASH will not improve the backlog of people waiting for a hospital bed, nor will it function efficiently without concurrently redesigning the continuum of care. The ASH Redesign team will continue to work with stakeholders and service area experts to increase hospital functional bed capacity. Specifically, the ASH Redesign team is emphasizing an increase in housing options; rethinking the forensic pathway to better support individuals at the intersection of mental health and the criminal legal system; and establishing partnerships increasing access to evidence-based, person-centered care. With ongoing support, work toward these goals is expected to make substantial progress while the hospital construction is being completed. The team will continue to engage peer supports and advocates to maintain our “People First” principle, as well as support HHSC in sharing the unique aspects of the history of ASH with the community. With these considerations in mind, during the next two years, the ASH Redesign team will develop strategies and solutions to increase the functional capacity of the new ASH to optimize the number of people that can be served. By doing so, we will continue improvements in brain health care in Central Texas and beyond, becoming a model for the nation.
