Illinois State Audit Finds 124% Increase In Child Psych Hospital Stays Beyond Medical Necessity

A performance audit of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) found a 124% increase between 2014 and 2015 in the number of children who stayed in an inpatient psychiatric facility beyond medical necessity (BMN). The review included cases of children who were  eventually in DCFS custody, whether or not they were in DCFS custody when they were admitted.  During 2015, 168 children in DCFS custody remained in a psychiatric inpatient facility beyond medical necessity, up from 75 children in 2014. The average length of stay increased by 33%, from 48 days in 2014 to 64 days in . . .