The bill would amend references in Health and Safety Code related to the administration or court order of medication for patients in a residential care facility or other inpatient facilities. The bill would add a subchapter to Health and Safety Code to create a new pilot program at alternate residential care facilities for the provision of behavioral health or psychiatric services for certain residents. The bill would require the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to, in the event the pilot program is established, consult with a work group and to adopt rules regarding collection of information. The bill states that residents are entitled to an expedited administrative hearing to challenge participation in the program, and have a right to appeal a decision made at an administrative hearing.
It is assumed there would be a cost to HHSC to implement the provisions of the bill associated with the pilot program and a possible cost to HHSC to renovate two to three buildings to meet the specifications of the pilot program. According to HHSC, these costs are unknown at this time and would not be known until HHSC adopts rules associated with the pilot program. Costs would vary depending on how many residents receive services in the pilot program.
Current budget assumptions estimate the average monthly cost per state supported living center or state center resident to be $21,696 per month in fiscal year 2022 and $22,497 in fiscal year 2023, and assumed the average daily facility cost per occupied state mental health facility bed to be $561 per day in fiscal year 2022 and fiscal year 2023. Using similar assumptions, the cost to provide psychiatric services for an initial period of 60 days could range from $33,660 to $44,994 per individual and the cost to provide behavioral health services for an initial period of six months could range from $102,663 to $134,982 per individual in the 2022-23 biennium.
Based on information provided by the Office of Court Administration, no significant impact to the state court system is anticipated as a result from implementing the provisions of the bill.
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.