SB3438 - Mental Health Assessment Reform Act

• Department of Healthcare and Family Services must identify minimum information needed to document medical necessity for Medicaid community mental health services within 3 months and make requirements publicly available to all mental health centers and clinics.

• Individuals become immediately eligible for community mental health services upon documentation of medical necessity criteria in their medical record, with providers receiving reimbursement without service delays or denials.

• Integrated assessment and treatment planning process required no more than annually for specified community mental health services, with a 90-day open assessment period for providers to gather information.

• Department must establish a workgroup within 3 months to address assessment tool issues including motivational interviewing implementation, trauma-informed practices, racial/cultural bias examination, confidentiality protections, and managed care denial prevention.

• Department must develop billing codes or reimbursement mechanisms by July 1, 2022 for full provider time spent on assessment and treatment planning, including documentation and collateral interviews; emergency rulemaking authority granted for expedited implementation.