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Senate Bill 58 |
Senate Author: Nelson |
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Effective: 9-1-13 |
House Sponsor: Zerwas et al. |
Senate Bill 58 amends the Government Code to require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to integrate behavioral health services and physical health services into the Medicaid managed care program. The bill requires a managed care organization that contracts with HHSC under the managed care program to develop a network of public and private providers of behavioral health services and to ensure adults with serious mental illness and children with serious mental disturbance have access to a comprehensive array of services. The bill sets out requirements for HHSC in implementing the network and requires HHSC and the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), not later than December 1, 2013, to establish the Behavioral Health Integration Advisory Committee to address the planning and development needs of the behavioral health services network and issue formal recommendations to HHSC regarding implementation of the bill's requirements.
Senate Bill 58 requires DSHS to make grants to entities, including local governmental entities, nonprofit community organizations, and faith-based community organizations, to establish or expand community collaboratives that bring the public and private sectors together to provide services to persons experiencing homelessness and mental illness. The bill establishes procedures for awarding grants and requirements for entities awarded a grant, acceptable uses of grant money, elements that may be incorporated into a community collaborative, and required outcome measures for community collaboratives. The bill provides for annual review of a collaborative's efforts to meet outcome measures and the reduction and cessation of funding for collaboratives that do not meet those measures. The bill requires the executive commissioner of HHSC to adopt any rules necessary to implement provisions relating to behavioral health and physical health services and the community collaborative grant program.
Senate Bill 58 amends the Health and Safety Code to require DSHS to establish and maintain a public reporting system on performance and outcome measures relating to mental health and substance abuse services established by the Legislative Budget Board, DSHS, and HHSC. The bill sets out operational requirements for the system and posting requirements for DSHS and requires HHSC to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of establishing and maintaining the system.