Dear readers … we’ve done it. We have made it to December.
This means that we have gone over the waterfall. No longer do we need these paddles or these maps. From this point forward we are at the mercy of the universe to guide us through the absolute joy* of the Holiday Season, and all we can do is trust that when we land, the waters are warm and welcoming.
*(Depending on your general outlook, perhaps this is absolute joy. Or perhaps this is more like it.)
And now onto the news …..
Governor’s Medicaid Provider Rate Increase
The Governor’s proposed budget has come out and includes increases for the four sectors studied in the Medicaid Provider Rate Study: senior and long-term care, developmentally delayed, and adult and children’s mental health and substance use disorder treatment providers.
The comprehensive and objective Medicaid rate study recommended that adult and children’s mental health and substance use treatment providers receive about $7M per year of the biennium to get the community-based providers up to market and to cover costs of providing the care. The Governor’s budget requests about half of that amount in one-time funding and a third of that amount in ongoing rate increases. We’re incredibly grateful to the Governor’s office and DPHHS for putting that funding in the budget to try and get community-based providers back to work in your communities!
During this legislative session, we’ll be talking with legislators about funding the full recommendations from the Governor’s study. With another $10M in funding, we can get community-based behavioral health providers up to the full recommendation of the Governor’s study.
Advocacy Suggestions:
- Thank the Governor and DPHHS for putting rate increases into the Governor’s proposed budget.
- Advocate to your representatives and senators across the state to fund the full recommendations for community-based behavioral health in your communities.
- Advocate for both Republican and Democratic Representatives and Senators to support the rate increases as this was a legislatively funded study proposed by DPHHS under this administration.
- Advocate for an annual Medicaid cost-of-living increase for mental health and substance use providers similar to the one that physicians receive. Once we get the rates up to market, we want to make sure that another expensive rate study isn’t required in the future.
- To learn more go to: https://montanabehavioralhealth.org/advocacy/
CSCT Moves Home to DPHHS
The Governor’s budget also moves the Comprehensive School and Community Treatment (CSCT) program back to DPHHS with all the other Medicaid programs. In the 2021 Legislative Session, CSCT was moved to Office of Public Instruction and had a new funding mechanism enacted called an Intergovernmental Transfer (IGT).
There has been a great deal of confusion around this program and it fell from being a nationally-recognized Montana program to being offered in fewer schools.
This program is a wrap-around best practice for children with serious emotional disturbances (SED) so that they can remain in school with the help of a counselor and behavioral health care manager. With the loss of this program in so many schools, children with SEDs and their families have been left without support as they return to post-pandemic schooling.
Advocacy Suggestions:
- Thank the Governor’s office and DPHHS for moving this important program back to where it belongs at DPHHS.
- Talk with your legislators about funding this program with state funding as most Medicaid programs are funded and removing the IGT program.
- Talk with your school district about renewing their CSCT contracts with state-approved mental health providers so that children receive this important service.
Public Hearings on Upcoming Rules
HCBS Statewide Transition Plan Public Hearing, Dec. 8, 2022 from 2-4 p.m.
https://dphhs.mt.gov/assets/montanahealthcareprograms/MontanaFinalHomeandCommunityBasedServicesStatewideTransitionPlanPublicNotice.pdf
New Mobile Crisis and Stabilization Rates Public Hearing, Dec. 8, 2022 at 9:00
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://dphhs.mt.gov/assets/rules/37-1018pro-arm.pdf
HEART Fund Increase
The Governor’s budget requests a change from the original recreational marijuana tax funding for the HEART Fund from $6M to about 11% of net tax amounts. BHAM has advocated for this change to ensure that the Governor’s HEART Fund has a sufficient budget to provide mental health and substance use disorder treatment across Montana.
The HEART Fund can also establish prevention funding for the first time in Montana so that dollars can be spent preventing more expensive treatment in acute settings.
Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers (CCBHCs)
CCBHCs are facilities specifically designed to provide a community with an all-inclusive range of substance use and mental health disorder services, especially for individuals who have the most complex need. Through a generous grant provided by the Murdock Charitable Trust, the Behavioral Health Alliance of Montana has taken the lead on vetting the CCBHC model with providers and state stakeholders.
SAMSHA has been providing short-term planning and implementation grants to agencies throughout the US to help them prepare for their states to implement CCBHCs.
You can view the grant awards here:
https://www.samhsa.gov/grants/awards/2022/SM-22-002?combine=&page=3
Advocacy Suggestions:
- You can learn more about the CCBHC model here:
https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/program/ccbhc-success-center/ccbhc-overview/
- Educate your legislators on how CCBHCs can help enhance community-based behavioral health services in your communities.
- CCBHC advocacy talking points are available on the BHAM website at https://montanabehavioralhealth.org/advocacy/
You’re Invited to the Friends of the Children’s Gingerbread Dreamhouse
Soiree!
Friends of the Children are hosting a benefit for the Western Montana Chapter on Thursday, December 8 th from 6:30-9:00 p.m. at L.A. Design in Missoula.
Register here: https://friendsmontana.org/news/experience-our-gingerbread-dreamhouse-soiree-2
Please reach out to me if there is anything you need. When we work together, we can solve all the problems out there!
Stay safe. Stay healthy.