HB 18-1094 Summary

• Reauthorizes and renames the "Child Mental Health Treatment Act" to the "Children and Youth Mental Health Treatment Act" to expand services to youth up to age 21.

• Expands eligibility to include children and youth at risk of out-of-home placement who are not categorically eligible for Medicaid, in addition to those who are Medicaid-eligible.

• Requires mental health agencies to use standardized risk stratification tools for evaluations and provide written notification with a comprehensive list of treatment providers, allowing families to choose their preferred provider.

• Establishes clear appeals processes for service denials, including a two-working-day internal appeal and a three-working-day third-party review by state department professional; adds similar appeals pathway for Medicaid-eligible children after exhausting Medicaid appeals.

• Creates an advisory board of 11-15 members representing state agencies, providers, consumers, families, and advocacy groups to recommend standards and rules for children and youth mental health services; appropriates $1,286,611 for implementation in fiscal year 2018-19.