Mental Health Treatment Centers (792)

314 (language only)

A. Beginning August 1, 2014, and each year after, the Commissioner, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, shall report annually to the Secretary of Finance, and the Chairmen of House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees the general fund and non general fund allocations and authorized position levels for each state-operated behavioral health facility. The report shall be made available on the agency’s public website.

B.1. The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services shall review the current configuration of services provided at the Commonwealth’s adult mental health hospitals and consider options for consolidating and reorganizing the delivery of such state services.  This review shall include: a programmatic assessment and fiscal impact of the long-term needs for inpatient services for geriatric, adult, and forensic populations; the fiscal impact of the reduction in geriatric census on first and third party reimbursement at facilities; and, the long-term capital requirements of state mental health facilities.  The review shall also identify national best practices in the delivery of these types of services.  The Commissioner, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services shall submit this review to the Governor and to the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committees by October 1, 2014.

2. The Commissioner, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Service shall establish a planning process to provide geriatric, adult, and forensic mental health services, both inpatient and community-based, as close to persons’ homes as possible. This planning process will produce a comprehensive plan that ensures there are quality services, both inpatient and community-based, delivered at the community level in every part of the Commonwealth. The target populations to be addressed in this plan are adults age 18 and older who: (i) have mental health needs, (ii) may have co-occurring mental health and substance abuse problems, (iii) may be in contact with the courts systems, (iv) may require emergency mental health services, (v) may need access to acute or intermediate inpatient psychiatric hospitalization, or (vi) may require long-term community behavioral health and other supports. The planning process should identify the mental health and substance abuse services and supports that are needed to help persons remain in their home and function in the community and should define the role that the Commonwealth’s mental health hospitals will play in this effort. The plan should establish and rank recommendations for community and facility services and supports based on greatest priority and identify future estimated funding needs associated with each recommendation. The planning process shall include input from community services boards, state and private inpatient facilities, the Department of Medical Assistance Services, persons receiving mental health and co-occurring substance abuse services, advocates for mental health and co-occurring services, and any other persons or entities the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services deems necessary for full consideration of the issues and needed solutions. The Commissioner shall report to Governor and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees by October 1, 2015.

C. The Commissioner, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services shall submit a report to the Governor and to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees on November 1, 2014, detailing any identified operational efficiencies and improvements in the quality of services associated with the new Western State Hospital facility.