Honorable James B. Frank, Chair, House Committee on Human Services
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2774 by Lozano (Relating to the provision of behavioral health services for certain persons under the medical assistance program.), As Introduced
The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at this time because the number of additional individuals who may become eligible for services, and their utilization of those services, is unknown.
The bill would provide Medicaid behavioral health benefits to adults between 20 and 65 years old who have been diagnosed with a serious mental illness and who have been arrested at least once. The Health and Human Services indicates that providing Medicaid services to a new population would require a contract amendment to define behavioral health service eligibility to include the person's age, diagnosis, and arrest stipulations.
HHSC does not consistently collect or have access to the arrest history of individuals enrolled in Medicaid. HHSC currently provides any medically necessary Medicaid-covered behavioral health service to individuals in this age group who are enrolled in Medicaid, regardless of their arrest record.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.