Bill Text: CT SB00322 | 2014 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: An Act Connecting The Public To Behavioral Health Care Services.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-2-1)
Status: (Passed) 2014-06-06 - Signed by the Governor [SB00322 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2014-SB00322-Introduced.html
General Assembly |
Raised Bill No. 322 | ||
February Session, 2014 |
LCO No. 1897 | ||
*01897_______HS_* | |||
Referred to Committee on HUMAN SERVICES |
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Introduced by: |
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(HS) |
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AN ACT CONCERNING A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLEARINGHOUSE.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 38a-1041 of the general statutes is amended by adding subsection (g) as follows (Effective July 1, 2014):
(NEW) (g) Not later than January 1, 2015, the Office of the Healthcare Advocate shall establish a central information and referral clearinghouse to increase public access to information regarding behavioral health services and offer referrals to residents to appropriate services. In developing the clearinghouse, the Healthcare Advocate, or the Healthcare Advocate's designee, shall: (1) Collaborate with stakeholders, including, but not limited to, (A) organizations that already have clearinghouse mechanisms, (B) state agencies, (C) regional mental health boards, (D) community collaboratives, and (E) the United Way's 2-1-1 Infoline program to develop an accessible tool for state residents to readily locate information about mental health services, substance abuse services and general information about behavioral health and health care providers; (2) make available electronic information documenting that mental health and well-being are as important as physical health and well-being to individual development; (3) work with state agencies, community organizations and the 2-1-1 Infoline program to develop mechanisms to refer individuals to the 2-1-1 Infoline program, state agencies, or community organizations for assistance with matters outside the scope of expertise of the Office of the Health Care Advocate; (4) inventory existing behavioral health services; (5) identify gaps in services and barriers to access to care, including any limitations imposed by private insurers; and (6) develop data reporting mechanisms to track the effectiveness of the clearinghouse, including referrals to and from other organizations. Not later than February 1, 2016, and annually thereafter, the Office of the Healthcare Advocate shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, on the implementation of this subsection to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health and insurance.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: | ||
Section 1 |
July 1, 2014 |
38a-1041 |
Statement of Purpose:
To provide a central resource for information and referrals for behavioral health services.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]