INDIANAPOLIS — A New Whiteland woman has filed a lawsuit against a Lawrence mental health facility, alleging she was held against her will and left to clean up another patient’s feces.
Maria Reagan filed a lawsuit on November 19 against Options Behavioral Health System and its parent company Acadia Healthcare, bringing the total number of lawsuits against them to five.
“I felt like I was in hell,” said Reagan.
Since she was a teenager, Reagan has struggled with anxiety and depression.
“I lost my parents when I was younger,” said Reagan.
On September 22, she suffered a mental health episode and went to the emergency room at Community Hospital South.
Reagan agreed to be transported to Options Behavioral Health in Lawrence, one of 35 state-licensed mental health facilities.
She expected to be there for 72 hours but instead was a patient for eight days.
"I was looking forward to going there to get the help that I needed," said Reagan.
But Reagan said she did not get help.
“The whole eight days I was there, I was not allowed to go outside once,” said Reagan.
According to a July 2024 inspection report obtained by WRTV Investigates through a records request, the state recommended that Options Behavioral Health fix its fence around the outdoor areas quickly “so that patients can have access to fresh air.”
According to Reagan’s lawsuit, she was given broken crayons and coloring pages.
“I grabbed a piece of paper of a little puppy and I started coloring it,” said Reagan.
The lawsuit also alleges Reagan was never evaluated by a psychiatrist.
Reagan’s attorney, Chad Bradford of the law firm Cohen & Malad, said of the five patients who have filed lawsuits, none saw a psychiatrist while at Options Behavioral Health.
"It's not what the public expects,” said Bradford. “I would imagine if you asked ten people on the street, would you be seen by a psychiatrist if you go to a psychiatric facility, 10 out of 10 would say yes."
The lawsuit also alleges Reagan personally witnessed staff denying another patient her required insulin for three days.
Reagan and her attorney say Options Behavioral Health staff gave her wipes to clean up after her roommate got sick and there were feces all over their room.
“There was diarrhea all over the bathroom the light switch, the walls, on the door, on the toilet, on the ground,” said Reagan. “I was scared because I didn’t want to get sick.”
Options staff used threats and intimidation to prevent Reagan from leaving the facility, the lawsuit alleges.
“I felt like I was in the twilight zone, like where am I?" said Reagan. “The way I saw people get treated broke my heart.”
All five lawsuits filed against Options Behavioral Health System and its parent company Acadia Healthcare allege the facility held patients against their will and without any medical basis.
As we reported in October, father Craig Inman filed a lawsuit on behalf of his daughter, who was 12 years old at the time she was a patient.
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In a statement on the Acadia Healthcare website, the company says: “To be clear: we patently reject claims that Acadia places profits over patients - including inferences that we systematically hold patients longer than is medically necessary for financial reasons."
Acadia Healthcare also points out that their average length of stay at acute hospitals, like Options, is 9.3 days — in line with national averages.
WRTV Investigates asked Acadia Healthcare specifically about Reagan’s lawsuit against Options Behavioral Health.
They declined an on-camera interview but provided a written statement.
“While we cannot comment on active litigation, Options Behavioral Health takes the well-being and quality care of our patients seriously as we strive to provide assistance in recovery from mental health and addiction concerns,” read the statement from Options Behavioral Health.
Reagan hopes her lawsuit helps others seeking mental health treatment.
She’s encouraged other former patients that made their concerns public.
"It gave me hope that people are starting to speak out,” said Reagan. “It's a hard thing to do but it has to start somewhere."
35 private mental health institutions are licensed by the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction.
Reagan said she did not know to file a complaint with FSSA.
“It was not an easy process and I’m still confused if I went through the right channels,” said Reagan.
WRTV Investigates found getting public information about mental health hospitals in Indiana can be downright difficult.
FSSA may conduct annual inspections and investigate complaints, however, FSSA does not post inspection reports or summaries online as they do for childcare facilities.
In fact, if the public wants to view inspection reports for a mental health hospital, they have to request copies through a formal records request under the Indiana Access to Public Records Act.
It took WRTV Investigates four months to receive inspection reports for Options Behavioral Health. We requested them on July 15 and received two reports on November 13.
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“We are talking about folks who are in a crisis moment. A crisis can't wait,” said State Senator Andrea Hunley. “The public needs to be able to have access to these reports in an easy format. The only way to request records is through a cumbersome records request process.”
Sen. Hunley represents parts of Marion County and serves on the Behavioral Health Commission, a group of state leaders who make recommendations on the overall improvement of Indiana residents' behavioral and mental health.
“At the end of the day, we have to have a system that is transparent and is being held accountable,” said Hunley.
WRTV Investigates also found to file a complaint against an Indiana mental health facility, you can’t do it online. You have to call 1-800-901-1133
"It feels antiquated in 2024 that's the only way you can file a complaint,” said Hunley. “We definitely need to have a portal. We have complaint portals for other agencies for other purposes."
Patients may call the Mental Health Ombudsman, an office separate from the state, that can help resolve patient issues.
MHS Indiana, which operates the ombudsman office with Mental Health America of Indiana, has not responded to questions WRTV sent on November 1 asking for annual reports and statistics for the ombudsman office.
Sen. Hunley had a hard time finding information as well.
Hunley, a Democrat, and Republican Rep. Cindy Ledbetter wrote an October 18 joint letter to FSSA’s Interim Director at DMHA asking questions about the agency’s oversight of mental health facilities.
“What is the process for filing a complaint?” wrote the lawmakers. “How do the ombudsmen share the complaint data?”
FSSA responded in writing but did not answer the question about the ombudsman.
The lawmakers also requested complaint data and inspection data for the past five years and have not yet received the information, Hunley said.
“All my questions were not answered,” said Sen. Hunley.
Sen. Hunley doubts legislation will fix the issues with transparency and mental health institutions.
“I don't think one bill is going to change the entire system,” said Hunley. “We can do things the right way administratively. I think it’s going to require folks working together to first admit and solve the problem we have at hand and then come together across systems.”
While FSSA says it may conduct inspections of 35 licensed mental health institutions, Hunley said it does not appear those inspections are required by law.
“It absolutely concerns me,” said Hunley. “We have an agency that is responsible for licensing that is responsible for ensuring that we have high-quality care, that may not be happening.”
STATEMENT ON ACADIA HEALTHCARE WEBSITE:
To be clear: we patently reject claims that Acadia places profits over patients – including inferences that we systematically hold patients longer than is medically necessary for financial reasons.
Here are some important facts you should know:
- Patient care decisions, including whether treatment is necessary and for how long, are medical decisions made by licensed providers, based on medical necessity and adhere to all associated legal requirements.
- The average length of stay at Acadia’s acute hospitals is in line with national averages.
- In most cases, the decision to involuntarily commit a patient for psychiatric evaluation in a behavioral health hospital is initiated by emergency room providers, law enforcement personnel, or other individuals as designated by state statutes. Those independent third parties make the initial determination that a patient requires hospitalization and evaluation.
- Our hospitals are highly regulated and are required to meet policies and standards set by federal, state, and local governments. Acadia’s acute care hospitals have been inspected and surveyed by The Joint Commission (TJC), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and various state agencies nearly 300 times per year on average over the past five years.
- It is widely recognized within the medical community that discharging patients too early can result in catastrophic consequences, including serious injury – and even death – for the patient or others. Determining the appropriate level of care for acutely ill patients is a complicated and highly individualized decision that psychiatrists across the industry face every day.
Acadia follows industry-standard, clinically driven admission and discharge criteria
To reiterate: we patently reject claims that Acadia places profits over patients – including inferences that we systematically hold patients longer than is medically necessary for financial reasons. Notably, the average length of stay at our acute hospitals is in line with national averages.
Average Length of Stay in Days: Acadia Acute Hospitals vs Industry*, FY2023
*Healthcare cost reporting information system (HCRIS) from CMSPatient care decisions, including whether treatment is necessary and for how long, are medical decisions made by licensed providers, based on medical necessity, and adhere to all associated legal requirements.
In addition, multi-disciplinary teams work with patients, guardians, and family members during their treatment and in preparation for discharge. Discharging a patient too early can result in catastrophic consequences, including serious injury – and even death – for the patient or others. When making discharge decisions, physicians lead with the best interests of our patients and weigh a variety of factors including ongoing treatment needs and the risk of discharging before adequate stabilization.
Acadia is proud of the support we provide to those requiring acute psychiatric care
In 2023, 81% of our patients who responded to a survey – including involuntarily admitted respondents – reported feeling hopeful as a result of the care they received in our hospitals. Since 2016, Acadia has provided over $500 million in uncompensated care to help deliver the best outcomes for patients regardless of ability to pay. We remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring patients, families, and their communities have access to the highly specialized treatment delivered at our hospitals.
Acadia hospitals are highly regulated, independently accredited and uphold stringent standards
Our hospitals are highly regulated and are required to meet policies and standards set by federal, state, and local governments. All 54 of Acadia’s acute hospitals are licensed in each state, accredited by TJC, and overseen by independent, respected third-party organizations and government entities such as CMS. This oversight helps ensure compliance with policies governing reimbursement and care quality, including from all government healthcare programs.
These independent bodies regularly visit – unannounced – to evaluate our compliance and ensure we provide high-quality, effective care for our patients. Acadia’s acute care hospitals have been inspected nearly 300 times per year on average over the past five years. In addition, we are routinely subjected to other federal, state, and local inspections as well as independent audits by third-party firms. We also regularly welcome third parties into our hospitals on a daily basis – from case managers to payors and other independent healthcare professionals – to review patient progress and collaborate in discharge planning.
Recent media reports lack important facts and context about involuntary commitment cases
Involuntary commitment to a psychiatric hospital is a complex issue with profound implications for individuals and their families. While some stories have portrayed commitment as a means of trapping individuals against their will, the process is far more complicated. In most cases, the decision to involuntarily commit a patient for psychiatric evaluation in a behavioral health hospital is initiated by emergency room providers, law enforcement personnel, or other individuals designated by state statutes. Those independent third parties make the initial determination that a patient requires an urgent psychiatric assessment. Once admitted, a psychiatric evaluation is then conducted to determine a treatment or discharge plan.
It is important to emphasize that involuntary commitment includes a legal process that generally involves many parties, such as a patient's attorney, family members, the court system, case managers, law enforcement, and outside referring clinicians.
We understand the tremendous responsibility that comes with supporting patients admitted involuntarily to our hospitals. These are serious decisions, and our clinicians fiercely advocate for our patients’ best interests.
Inaccurate portrayals of Acadia hospitals in the media perpetuate harmful beliefs about behavioral healthcare
Inaccurate and incomplete reporting about behavioral healthcare may unfortunately reinforce the fear and misconceptions some may have about seeking treatment. These reports may even perpetuate the myth that psychiatric care is ineffective or even harmful.
As part of our commitment to deliver technology-driven quality care, Acadia continues to invest millions of dollars annually into our hospitals. We also partner with many of the most highly respected, well-established health systems throughout the country to expand access to life-saving behavioral health care in local communities. Additionally, it is important to acknowledge the dedication of our 23,500 Acadia employees who come to work every day living our purpose to Lead Care with Light in support of patients, families and communities seeking hope for brighter futures.
Acadia remains focused on addressing our country’s mental health crisis
Our country is facing a severe mental health crisis. According to Mental Health America, over half of adults with a mental illness receive no treatment. Given our nation’s record level of suicide rates, it is critical to ensure patients needing behavioral healthcare can receive proper treatment.
Acadia is committed to improving access to care and making the system easier to navigate for patients. We remain focused on providing the supportive, collaborative and compassionate care that is so desperately needed.
