HB 23-1269 Summary

• State Department shall analyze directed payment authority to increase access to behavioral health services for Medicaid-eligible youth under 21, including residential treatment, multisystemic therapy, functional family therapy, and psychotherapy, with rates potentially adjusted based on acuity.

• Department must report by October 1, 2023 to relevant committees whether directed payments should be pursued or present an alternative plan to expand access to clinical stabilization services.

• Creates High-Acuity Treatment and Services Cash Fund to provide additional resources to licensed providers serving high-acuity youth, funded by unspent general fund allocations from fiscal years 2022-23 and 2023-24; fund expires July 1, 2025.

• Defines "boarding" as youth waiting longer than 12 hours for psychiatric treatment placement and "extended stay" as youth waiting longer than 72 hours for discharge from acute psychiatric care to less intensive settings.

• Requires hospitals and county departments to report quarterly through October 1, 2024 on numbers of children boarding or in extended stays; establishes working groups to develop performance monitoring framework and incentive funding pool pilot program.