AUGUSTA (AP) — A legislative panel has agreed that Maine will launch an investigation into a staterun psychiatric hospital that has been plagued with problems.

The Government Oversight Committee voted on Wednesday for the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability to look into various aspects of the Riverview Psychiatric Center in Augusta, which houses many patients that come via court order or jail.

The federal government pulled the hospital’s certification and $20 million in funding last year, citing concerns about understaffing and the way patients were being treated. The state is trying to regain its certification through court action.

The court master who oversees Riverview, Daniel Wathen, is also planning to conduct an inspection of the facility.



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