A federal appeals court has reversed a prior ruling that accused Mississippi of overreliance on institutionalization for individuals with mental health conditions instead of community-based care. This decision, made by three judges on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, negates the claim that Mississippi violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by discriminating against people with mental health conditions.
The appeals court judges also argued that a remedial order issued by U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves, which aimed to reform Mississippi’s mental health system, went beyond the scope of alleged liability.
Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch’s office had urged the appeals court to overturn the district judge’s decision, and Fitch, a Republican, welcomed the ruling, asserting that federal agencies had used the threat of lawsuits to influence state policies and budgets.
In 2011, the federal government criticized Mississippi for not doing enough to provide mental health services outside of mental hospitals, eventually leading to a lawsuit by the U.S. Justice Department against the state in 2016.
In 2019, U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves ruled that Mississippi had violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by inadequately resourcing community-based mental health services. Evidence revealed that individuals were frequently admitted to state hospitals for extended periods, only to return without substantial long-term improvement.
In 2021, Judge Reeves approved funding for an independent monitor to assess Mississippi’s mental health system’s effectiveness in reducing unnecessary hospitalizations.
State attorneys countered that Mississippi had implemented programs to enable community-based treatment, such as mobile crisis teams, supportive housing, and peer support services. Justice Department attorneys argued that these services needed expansion and monitoring to ensure their effectiveness.
