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Thursday, June 26, 1997

TCADA audit says improvements made, suggests further changes

By PEGGY FIKAC / Associated Press Writer

AUSTIN (AP) - The state agency overseeing alcohol and drug abuse programs has worked to resolve findings of gross fiscal mismanagement and improve operations, but more can be done in several areas, the state auditor said Wednesday.

Among other suggestions, the audit report said procedures could be improved for allocating state and federal funds equitably across the state and within the 11 health and human service regions.

Many of the report's recommendations are under consideration for implementation at the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, which was placed in conservatorship in 1995.

That action came after legislators said they found financial mismanagement in many local treatment centers that receive state funding to operate TCADA programs. This year, lawmakers reviewed and agreed to continue operation of the agency.

"The conservatorship board appointed by the governor has addressed the most significant issues which resulted in the assessment of gross fiscal mismanagement at the commission," said the audit report.

"However, a number of issues related to rate setting, performance measures, management information systems, and complaint resolution were left ... for the new commission and management to address," it said.

The report said the full effect of changes developed and implemented by conservators and the current commissioners can't be assessed at this time.

The commission, in a response included in the audit, said it believes efforts made over the last 18 months have corrected the conditions of gross fiscal mismanagement.

The commission said it is committed to resolving issues identified in the report, but that the issues "occurred over a period of years and cannot be corrected without careful study and consideration of all the factors."

Terry Bleier, TCADA executive director, added Wednesday, "As the Legislature recognized this year in its vote of approval reauthorizing TCADA for another 12 years, we have made major efforts to rebuild.

"We will continue to work to make improvements at the agency. And we will continue to work hard to deliver the best substance abuse treatment and prevention services we can provide to the people of Texas."

Among other items, the audit report said allocation of resources among 11 health and human services regions may not be equitable for fiscal years 1996 and 1997.

It said changes are planned for fiscal year 1998, which begins Sept. 1, and legislation approved for the next budget cycle defines priority populations to which the commission is to provide services.

The commission agreed more changes are needed in the regional allocation formula and noted that the Legislature has given it direction. The agency added that the audit report made equity comparisons based on population and need, but there are other factors used in state formulas, including poverty and whether an area is rural.

The audit report noted that access to services is limited statewide, with an average of one in nine people who want treatment services able to obtain them.

The percentage varies around the state, the report said. In the Austin region, 21.2 percent of those wanting services got them, while just 6.9 percent of those wanting services in the Tyler region received them, it said.

TCADA said several regions lack agencies that are available to and capable of providing services. The commission said it is working to recruit prospective service providers. Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
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