Texas is spending more money on mental health now than it has in more than a decade, and today, state lawmakers got to hear about what that .
Some of the numbers on mental health services in Texas have lawmakers patting themselves on the back.
"That is truly a remarkable accomplishment. And a clear demonstration of what our investment last [legislative] session did," said State , R-Flower Mound, speaking to Dr. David Lakey, commissioner of the Department of State Health Services.
, lawmakers dedicated hundreds of millions to mental health care, money they had cut two years earlier. About $50 million went to reduce waiting lists at community-based mental health providers like Austin AG真人百家乐 County Integral Care.
Early last year, Texas had more than 5,000 people on a waiting list for services at community centers, but more than a year later, that number dropped to 285.
Texas used to rank near the bottom compared to other states in per-capita spending on mental health care, but the $2.6 billion devoted by the Texas Legislature last year could bring Texas closer to the national average, according to liberal advocates.
