AR SB756

Adopt cost-containment measures for outpatient behavioral healthcare programs and maintain rehabilitation services for persons with mental illness in current form during transition to provider-led risk-based reimbursement model

Revise definition of "serious emotional disturbance" to prevent unnecessary enrollment of children in costly services and implement standardized universal assessment tool to determine service intensity needs

Adopt minimum 180-day treatment planning review frequency (unless medically necessary) and eliminate continuing care psychiatric diagnostic assessments for all patients, requirement for per diem billing in community support programs, and annual cost settlements to certain providers

Restrict new site certifications to recertifications of existing sites, replacement sites when providers terminate current operations, or new sites in areas with documented undue hardship and service unavailability

Provisions remain effective until July 1, 2018, or until operations transfer to provider-led organized care risk-based reimbursement model