Rising youth care costs are a major problem for many municipalities. In Laarbeek they know how to keep those expenses down. Here they spent 60,000 euros less on youth care last year than in 2020. Coincidence or a consequence of policy?
Nota bene in the town hall, according to councilor Joan Briels, is one of the keys behind these green numbers. No, not in the boardrooms, but in an office where a GZ psychologist works as a psychological practice assistant.
The municipality of Laarbeek has employed this psychologist for youth for several years now. According to Briels, as a central referral point for general practitioners, it is one of the reasons that the costs for youth care do not skyrocket and even fall.
More specialized and more expensive
That’s how it works: before the arrival of this practice nurse, general practitioners often sent children with psychological problems directly to mental health care. This is more specialist, more expensive care.
GPs and civil servants discussed this: ‘How can we reduce costs, but still help children who need help?’ They came up with the idea of bringing in a specialist in the form of a health care psychologist and appointing him as a kind of practice nurse for children.
Win win situation
If young people with psychological complaints report to their GP, they can forward them to the practice nurse. As a specialist, she is better able to assess whether a referral to mental health care is necessary, is the idea. Or that she herself can best help the child in question.
And according to GP Geert Oerlemans, who helped set up this project, this is a win-win situation. “Children are helped faster and more appropriately. As far as I can see, this setup means we don’t miss children who do need more intensive care.”
Fewer referrals
Alderman Briels agrees: “Getting the right care does not always mean that it has to be more specialist care. Our estimate is that fewer children are referred to mental health care because lighter care suits them better.”
This is also a stroke of luck for the Laarbeek treasury. On a healthcare budget of 4 million euros, the municipality spent 60,000 euros less last year than in 2020, when Laarbeek also spent less than the year before. This is special, since many municipalities, according to an accountant’s office BDO struggling with this cost item.
Higher account
But, Briels acknowledges, coincidence also plays a role in this. Suppose someone is in very deep trouble and that person needs specialist care such as treatment in a clinic, then that automatically entails a higher bill.
For example, Omroep Brabant recently published the story about the 13-year-old Jordan from Helmond. The municipality of Helmond pays tons for the intensive care he receives.
100,000 euros
“This can also happen to us”, Briels knows. “In fact, a few years ago, a young resident from our municipality needed care outside the province. That also cost a ton at the time. We use the maxim: we offer as light care as possible, but as heavy as necessary.”
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