By Chad
Nashville, TN – Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen and state officials say they don't expect the elimination of more than 500 jobs from the state's mental health agencies to adversely affect patient care. The Democratic governor announced last week more than 700 current state employees would lose their jobs as part of $241 million in budget cuts. The mental health service agencies will suffer a combined loss 552 existing positions. Spokeswoman for the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Jill Hudson says the reduction in her agency won't affect patient care.