SEN. BOWMAN IN HOT WATER OVER SALARIES - Mental Health Director Earns $400,000

(03/22/2004)

Sen. Ed Bowman, who called for a study of non-profit groups after it was discovered a Wyoming County senior center director was making over $300,000, is now in his own controversy. The Hancock County Senator sits on the board of Northwood Health Systems, a non-profit group that deals with metal illness, developmental disabilities and substance abuse problems. Pete Radakovich, the director of the northern panhandle center, raked in nearly $400,000 last fiscal year, mostly using Medicaid funds. Bowman claims he was just as surprised as anyone else when he learned how much Radakovich made. Mental health centers have gone from what once was considered public health agencies to being privatized, although many are private non-profits. Several of West Virginia's mental health centers have gone bankrupt, or are nearly bankrupt. Few operate with private insurance money because insurance companies do not pay well for mental illness of drug and alcohol problems. West Virginia's centers survive with taxpayer funding through Medicaid. Most centers, because of the lack of reimbursement, have gone to strict business models.

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