Bill Text: CA AB168 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Mental health: community-based services.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2016-09-12 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 283, Statutes of 2016. [AB168 Detail]
Download: California-2015-AB168-Chaptered.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 168 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
CHAPTER 283
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 12, 2016
APPROVED BY GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 12, 2016
PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 22, 2016
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 25, 2016
AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 17, 2016
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 20, 2016
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JANUARY 4, 2016
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Maienschein
JANUARY 22, 2015
An act to amend Section 14021.2 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code, and to amend Section 1 of Chapter 6 of the Statutes of 2016,
relating to mental health services.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 168, Maienschein. Mental health: community-based services.
Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is
administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and
under which qualified low-income persons receive health care
benefits. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by
federal Medicaid provisions. Existing law provides for a schedule of
benefits under the Medi-Cal program and provides for specified
services, including various mental health services. Existing federal
law, the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014, requires the
United States Secretary of Health and Human Services to, among other
things, no later than September 1, 2017, select from among those
states awarded a planning grant, the states that may participate in a
time-limited demonstration program that is designed to improve
access to community mental health and substance use treatment
services provided by certified community behavioral health clinics.
Existing law requires the department to develop a proposal for the
United States Secretary of Health and Human Services to be selected
as a participating state in this time-limited demonstration program,
as specified.
This bill would require the department to provide an update to the
Legislature by March 1, 2017, to include specified information if
the state is selected as a participating state in this time-limited
demonstration program.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 1 of Chapter 6 of the Statutes of 2016 is
amended to read:
Section 1. The Legislature finds and declares the following:
(a) In 2014 Congress enacted the federal Protecting Access to
Medicare Act of 2014.
(b) Under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act, eight states will
be selected to have their federal share of costs increased to 65
percent for two years for outpatient behavioral health care for
individuals with severe mental illnesses or serious emotional
disturbances.
(c) This federal funding would free up substantial funds in
participating counties that are currently being used to match federal
funds. The money that is currently being used to match federal funds
would be available to be used to meet the mental health service and
housing needs of those individuals who are not currently receiving
the behavioral health care that they need.
(d) In October 2015, the United States Secretary of Health and
Human Services awarded California a planning grant pursuant to
Section 223 of the federal Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014
which partially supported California in, among other things,
developing its proposal to participate in the two-year demonstration
program.
(e) California is among 24 states competing to be one of the eight
states chosen to participate in the two-year demonstration program.
(f) The Mental Health Services Act was approved by voters in 2004
for the primary purpose of addressing unmet mental health needs.
(g) It is an appropriate use of Mental Health Services Act funds
to support California's application to participate in this
demonstration program, including by using these funds to prepare
actuarial rates and provide technical assistance to counties seeking
to become certified community behavioral health centers.
(h) This act is consistent with and furthers the intent of the
Mental Health Services Act within the meaning of Section 18 of the
Mental Health Services Act.
SEC. 2. Section 14021.2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:
14021.2. (a) The department shall develop a proposal for the
United States Secretary of Health and Human Services for selection as
a participating state in the time-limited demonstration program
pursuant to Section 223 of the federal Protecting Access to Medicare
Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-93) in order to improve mental health
services furnished by certified community behavioral health clinics
to Medi-Cal beneficiaries.
(b) The department shall use the funds appropriated in the act
that added this section to pay any costs that will support the
development of a competitive proposal, including, but not limited to,
establishing actuarially sound rates and providing technical
assistance to counties.
(c) If the state is selected as a participating state in the
time-limited demonstration program described in subdivision (a), the
department, by March 1, 2017, shall provide an update to the
Legislature that includes, to the extent it is available, the
following information:
(1) The names of the participating counties.
(2) The estimated amount of additional funding each county is
expected to receive under the demonstration program.
(3) The proposed uses of the additional funds and the county funds
no longer required to be used as the federal match.
(4) A description of the improved partnerships between certified
community behavioral health clinics and veterans organizations,
primary care providers, health plans, educational agencies, and other
organizations that the demonstration program includes.
(5) Other identified benefits from the demonstration program
funding and planning process, and recommendations on any components
of the demonstration program that could be extended to other
counties.
