Legislators Tackle Psychiatric Bed Shortage

BUFFALO, Wyo. (AP) — Lawmakers are working to expand services at a state facility that houses dozens of people with severe developmental disabilities to include care for geriatric psychiatric patients.

A legislative committee discussed a draft bill Monday that would allow the Lander-based Wyoming Life Resource's Center to obtain a license for long-term nursing care.

Under the proposal, the center could accept patients with acquired brain injuries who have shown that they could harm themselves as well as people who have multiple psychiatric conditions and can't immediately find treatment.

The committee will meet again in January for a final vote on whether to sponsor the bill.

A task force on state health facilities has been examining treatment at the center and the Wyoming State Hospital in Evanston since 2013.