Bill Text - HB1635 (2014)

Relative to community mental health programs and making appropriations therefor.


Revision: March 27, 2014, midnight

HB 1635-FN-A – AS INTRODUCED

2014 SESSION

14-2851

09/10

HOUSE BILL 1635-FN-A

AN ACT relative to community mental health programs and making appropriations therefor.

SPONSORS: Rep. Wallner, Merr 10; Rep. Nordgren, Graf 12; Sen. Larsen, Dist 15; Sen.?D'Allesandro, Dist 20

COMMITTEE: Finance

ANALYSIS

This bill makes appropriations to the department of health and human services and the department of justice to pay costs related to mental health services in integrated community settings pursuant to a comprehensive settlement agreement with the United States Department of Justice.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

14-2851 09/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fourteen

AN ACT relative to community mental health programs and making appropriations therefor.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Department of Health and Human Services; Appropriation for Mental Health Services.

I. In addition to any other sums appropriated for fiscal years 2014 and 2015, the sum of $517,458 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, and the sum of $8,549,419 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015 are hereby appropriated to the department of health and human services. These appropriations shall be a charge against funds specified as follows:

05 Health and Social Services

95 Department of Health and Human Services

9200 Division of Behavioral Health

5945 CMH Program Support Fiscal Year 2014 Fiscal Year 2015

010 Personal Services-Prem. Classified $122,967 $254,297

060 Benefits $56,991 $120,116

103 Contracts for Operational Services $337,500 $8,175,007

TOTAL: $517,458 $8,549,419

Estimated Source of Funds

Federal Funds $187,985 $2,852,822

General Funds $329,473 $5,696,597

Total Source of Funds $517,458 $8,549,419

II. The appropriations in paragraph I shall be made available for the sole purpose of expanding and enhancing mental health service capacity in integrated community settings pursuant to the comprehensive settlement agreement with the United States Department of Justice concerning Amanda D., et al. v. Hassan, et al.; United States v. New Hampshire, No.1:12-CV-53 (SM) and in accordance with RSA 14:35-b. The governor is hereby authorized to draw a warrant for said sums out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. Sums appropriated in this section shall not be expended for any other purpose and shall not lapse.

2 Department of Justice; Appropriation. In addition to any other sums appropriated for fiscal years 2014 and 2015, the sums of $1,113,400 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, and $1,113,400 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015 are hereby appropriated to the department of justice for the purpose of paying plaintiff’s attorney’s fees costs and monitoring pursuant to the Amanda D., et al. v. Hassan, et al.; United States v. New Hampshire, No.1:12-CV-53 (SM) settlement. The governor is hereby authorized to draw a warrant for said sums out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. Sums appropriated in this section shall not be expended for any other purpose and shall not lapse.

3 Effective Date: This act shall take effect upon its passage.

LBAO

14-2851

Revised 02/12/14

HB 1635-FN-A FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT relative to community mental health programs and making appropriations therefor.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The Departments of Health and Human Services and Justice state this bill, as introduced, will increase state general fund expenditures by $1,442,873 in FY 2014, $6,809,997 in FY 2015, $10,191,438 in FY 2016, $13,756,765 in FY 2017, and $15,236,513 in FY 2018. State restricted expenditures (federal funds) will increase by $187,985 in FY 2014, $2,582,822 in FY 2015, $4,604,640 in FY 2016, $5,887,875 in FY 2017, and $6,387,454 in FY 2018. There will be no fiscal impact on state, county and local revenues, or county and local expenditures.

      This bill appropriates $329,473 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, and $5,696,597 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015 from the state general fund to the Department of Health and Human Services for the purpose of this act.

      This bill also appropriates $1,113,400 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, and $1,113,400 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015 from the state general fund to the Department of Justice for the purpose of this act.

METHODOLOGY:

    The Department of Health and Human Services states the bill would provide appropriations to enhance community mental health services in accordance with the settlement agreement with the US Department of Justice for FY 2014 and 2015. The appropriations necessary to support the additional services beyond FY 2015 will be requested in future operating budgets. The Department estimates the following incremental costs to support the services in the settlement:

 

FY2014

FY2015

FY2016

FY2017

FY2018

1) Housing Bridge Subsidy Program

$0

$817,500

$1,689,500

$2,289,000

$2,289,000

2) Glencliff Alternative Beds

$0

100,000

550,000

1,150,000

1,600,000

3) Mobile Crisis Teams

$0

209,100

1,053,950

1,898,800

2,534,550

4) Community Crisis Apartments

$0

311,550

1,518,450

2,725,350

3,620,700

5) Assertive Community Treatment Teams

$0

4,561,857

6,351,857

7,694,357

7,694,357

6) Supported Employment

250,000

2,000,000

3,000,000

3,250,000

3,250,000

7) Quality Assurance

179,958

374,412

382,321

387,133

410,360

8) Expert Reviewer

87,500

175,000

175,000

175,000

175,000

Total Expenditures:

$517,458

$8,549,419

$14,721,078

$19,569,640

$21,573,967

General Funds

$329,473

$5,696,597

$10,116,438

$13,681,765

$15,186,513

Federal Funds

$187,985

$2,852,822

$4,604,640

$5,887,875

$6,387,454

    Explanation of costs above:

        1) The Housing Bridge Subsidy Program supports individuals awaiting Section 8 housing. It is not Medicaid reimbursable and is funded with general funds. The appropriation would provide: 50 additional beds starting in July 2014, 50 additional beds starting in January 2015, and 110 additional beds starting in January 2016. The Department will apply for additional federal HUD funds for an additional 150 individuals.

        2) A new category of community residence for individuals coming out of the Glencliff Home. Assumes the individuals would be Medicaid eligible and 50% federal match would be available. Services would be limited to a cost of $100,000 per year, per person or $274 per day. The additional appropriation would provide: four additional beds starting 4/1/2015, six additional beds starting 4/1/2016, and six additional beds starting 4/1/2017.

        3) Three new mobile crisis response teams will be established: one in region IV (Concord Area) starting 4/1/2015, one in region VII (Manchester Area) starting 4/1/2016 and one in region VI (Nashua Area) starting 4/1/2017. Evaluations would be eligible for Medicaid matching funds, but other additional costs would not be.

        4) Six new 2-bed community crisis apartments will be established: two in region IV starting 4/1/2015, two in region VII starting 4/1/2016 and two in region VI starting 4/1/2017. Community Mental Health Center services would be Medicaid reimbursable. Other items such as rent, utilities and staffing would not.

        5) Assertive Community Treatment Teams (ACT). Funding is intended to achieve capacity to provide ACT services to 1,300 individuals starting 4/1/2015, and 1,500 individuals starting 4/1/16. This includes additional funds to comply with the agreed upon staffing model for the 11 current ACT teams, add two new teams in April 2015 and two more in April 2016.

        6) Increase the Supported Employment. Includes funding for staff to provide supported employment services for 200 additional individuals in FY 2014, 200 additional in FY 2015, 200 additional in FY 2016 and 50 additional in FY 2017. Assuming 10,000 eligible adults, this will increase the penetration rate of services provided from 12.1% to 18.6% by June 30, 2017. Assumes staff costs would be supported by Medicaid.

        7) Quality Assurance consists of full-time staff to monitor and report on implementation of the agreement. Four additional Program Planning and Review Specialists, labor grade 28, would be funded 65% by the general fund and 35% by federal Medicaid funds.

        8) Expert Reviewer. The state will pay general funds for an expert reviewer and their staff.

The Department of Justice states this bill provides the funding required during the current biennium to implement the settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice in Amanda D., et al. v. Hassan, et al. Under the settlement, the State agrees to pay the Plaintiffs a total of $2,426,800 for all attorney’s fees, costs and monitoring in the case. In accordance with the terms of the agreement, the payments are to be made as follows:

 

FY2014

FY2015

FY2016

FY2017

FY2018

Due 90 days after the effective date of the agreement.

$1,113,400

       

Due 12 months from the due date of the first payment.

 

$1,113,400

     

Due 24 months from the due date of the first payment.

   

$75,000

   

Due 36 months from the due date of the first payment.

     

$75,000

 

Due 48 months from the due date of the first payment.

       

$50,000

Total State Fiscal Impact (Both Departments)

FY2014

FY2015

FY2016

FY2017

FY2018

DHHS

$517,458

$8,549,419

$14,721,078

$19,569,640

$21,573,967

Justice

$1,113,400

$1,113,400

$75,000

$75,000

$50,000

Total

$1,630,858

$9,662,819

$14,796,078

$19,644,640

$21,623,967

           

General Funds

$1,442,873

$6,809,997

$10,191,438

$13,756,765

$15,236,513

Federal Funds

$187,985

$2,852,822

$4,604,640

$5,887,875

$6,387,454