AZ SB1018

Establishes Article 4 in Title 36, Chapter 34 of Arizona Revised Statutes regarding collaborative care services in behavioral health integration.

Creates the Collaborative Care Uptake Fund in the Department of Health Services and appropriates $1,000,000 from the state general fund for fiscal year 2023-2024.

Authorizes the Department to award grants to primary care physicians in medical practices with 50 or fewer employees to establish and deliver behavioral health integration services through the collaborative care model, including costs for staff hiring, contractor relationships, and software/technology upgrades.

Requires the Department to solicit and enter into grant agreements with collaborative care technical assistance centers to provide support to primary care physicians including financial modeling, staffing assistance, IT expertise, staff training, and best practices sharing.

Defines collaborative care model as evidence-based integrated behavioral health services involving a primary care physician, care manager, and psychiatric consultant working collaboratively with structured assessments and regular treatment modifications.