Agenda 04/26/2022 Item #10C (Letter of Support of the Willough's application w/DCF)04/26/2022
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners write a letter in support of The
Willough’s application to the Department of Children and Families (DCF) for designation as a
Receiving Facility.
OBJECTIVE: To further address needs identified in Collier County’s 2020 Mental Health and
Addiction Services Strategic Plan (Strategic Plan).
CONSIDERATIONS: As identified in Priority 1 of the Strategic Plan, at the present time Collier
County has a single Receiving Facility located at the David Lawrence Center (DLC). The number of DLC
crisis beds is limited, and it frequently operates at or over capacity. In addition, DLC does not accept
Medicare or have the facilities to care for those needing higher -level medical care in addition to crisis
assessment and stabilization. As a result, many Collier County residents annually are referred to Lee
County’s Park Royal Hospital or other facilities in the state, either because the DLC facility is full,
because of payer source, or because of the need for higher level medical care in addition to crisis
stabilization.
Per the 2018 Strategic Plan for Collier County’s Criminal Justice, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse
Planning Council:
The generally recognized “rule of thumb” for adequate mental health care, where the needs of a
community are considered met, is 30 adult acute care beds per 100,000 of population. That means
Collier County . . . falls far short of the benchmark.
[In 2017] at least 38% of people in need of mental health crisis care under the Baker Act were
sent to facilities in other counties due to lack of local capacity--particularly for individuals with
Medicare or who are medically compromised and need a hospital environment.
February 2022 population data from UF’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research projects a mid-
range for Collier’s population in 2025 - when we expect the county’s new Central Receiving Facility
(CRF) to be operational -- at 408,200. Using the “rule of thumb” numbers, that would mean a need for at
least 122 beds to meet community needs at that time, without regard to future population increases. In
addition, the CRF is not proposed to provide a hospital environment, as building to meet those
requirements would greatly increase the cost.
The Willough at Naples is an 87-bed psychiatric hospital located in East Naples. It has long been known
as a specialty psychiatric hospital focusing its care and treatment with adult men and women experiencing
co-occurring mental health and substance abuse problems in need of an inpatient level of care/treatment.
The Willough is licensed by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) as a specialty
psychiatric hospital, is accredited by the Joint Commission, and is certified by the Centers for Medicaid
and Medicare (CMS) under the special CMS Conditions of Participation as a Psychiatric Hospital. As a
Medicare-approved facility, The Willough accepts disabled & elderly Medicare recipients.
The Willough has applied to DCF for designation as a Receiving Facility, with a plan to convert 24 of its
87 beds designated for inpatient psychiatric services to beds suitable for psychiatric patients that require
hospitalization and who receive Medicare.
The Willough is not requesting any bed expansion or authorization under this application. It is intended
to complement, not compete with, DLC in the development of the Central Receiving Center by serving
individuals on Medicare or who are medically compromised and need a hospital environment. If
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approved, this designation would fill an identified service gap in Collier County for those who are
currently referred out of county due to bed capacity, payer source, or enhanced medical needs.
FISCAL IMPACT: This action will have no fiscal impact to the County.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: None.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item has been reviewed by the County Attorney, raises no legal
issues at this time and requires majority vote for Board action. - JAK
RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of County Commissioners authorizes the Chairman to sign a
letter of support for The Willough’s application to DCF for designation as a Receiving Facility.
Prepared by: Andy Solis, Commissioner, District 2
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COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 10.C
Doc ID: 22018
Item Summary: Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners write a letter in
support of The Willough’s application to the Department of Children and Families (DCF) for designation
as a Receiving Facility. (Sponsored by Commissioner Solis)
Meeting Date: 04/26/2022
Prepared by:
Title: Sr. Operations Analyst – County Manager's Office
Name: Geoffrey Willig
04/20/2022 11:53 AM
Submitted by:
Title: County Manager – County Manager's Office
Name: Mark Isackson
04/20/2022 11:53 AM
Approved By:
Review:
County Attorney's Office Jeffrey A. Klatzkow Level 3 County Attorney's Office Review Completed 04/20/2022 12:49 PM
County Manager's Office Mark Isackson Level 4 County Manager Review Completed 04/20/2022 12:51 PM
Board of County Commissioners Geoffrey Willig Meeting Pending 04/26/2022 9:00 AM
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