Improved Outcomes Persons Behavioral Health

The bill creates a behavioral health treatment voucher pilot program (program) to allow persons experiencing a behavioral health crisis who cannot find treatment with a behavioral health administration safety net provider to receive a voucher to use for payment with a private treatment provider (provider). The provider submits the voucher to the appropriate regional behavioral health administrative service organization for reimbursement. The bill allows one year for development of the program, then the program will operate through July 1, 2027. At the conclusion of the program, the behavioral health administration (BHA), in connection with the department of health care policy and financing and the department of human services, shall prepare a one-time report for the public and behavioral health and human services committee of the house of representatives and the health and human services committee of the senate. The bill grants the BHA authority to promulgate rules related to the creation of the program.The bill requires the behavioral health administration to create a family input form and require all behavioral health entities, recovery support services organizations, controlled substance licensed facilities, medicaid providers, hospitals, and emergency rooms to accept the family input form. The family input form allows a family member or friend of an individual to provide information or background on an individual needing mental health or behavioral health services.To help serve the health-care needs of persons with behavioral health needs who are enrolled in medicaid, the bill requires managed care entities (MCE) to enter into single case agreements with willing providers of behavioral health services enrolled in the medical assistance program when network development and access standards are not met and a member needs access to a medically necessary behavioral health service. The bill sets forth the requirements for single case agreements created by an MCE.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)