SB 1338 - Excellence in Behavioral Health Act

• Creates Behavioral Health Task Force within Department of Children and Families with 23 members from state agencies, legislature, judiciary, and community organizations to develop comprehensive state strategic plan for behavioral health services by June 30, 2016.

• Authorizes counties to establish treatment-based mental health court programs for persons with mental illness in the justice system, with pretrial participation voluntary and postadjudicatory participation based on criminal history, mental health screening, amenability to treatment, and defendant agreement.

• Establishes Behavioral Health Workforce Loan Forgiveness Program providing up to $3,000 annually for up to 4 years in loan repayment for qualified professionals employed at substance abuse treatment providers or community behavioral health centers.

• Designates community behavioral health centers through Department of Children and Families and requires prospective payment methodology for Medicaid reimbursement rates; mandates managed care plans spend at least 85 percent of behavioral health capitation on direct community behavioral health services.

• Appropriates $9 million for Criminal Justice, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Reinvestment Grant Program; $450,000 annually through 2020-2021 for loan forgiveness program; and $110.1 million for increased Medicaid reimbursement rates for behavioral health services in 2015-2016 fiscal year.