Menu
2019 Session

Budget Amendments - HB1700 (Member Request)

View Budget Item
View Budget Item amendments

Chief Patron: Sickles
Mitigate CSB Estimated GF Reductions from Medicaid Expansion (language only)

Item 310 #4h

Item 310 #4h

Health and Human Resources
Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services

Language

Page 356, line 11, strike "each" and insert "a".

Page 356, line 13, strike "at the end of the fiscal year" and insert "as of April 15, 2019".

Page 356, after line 19, insert:

"3. The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, in consultation with the Department of Medical Assistance Services, shall submit a letter to the Secretary of Health and Human Resources and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees by April 15, 2019, and quarterly thereafter, that reports on (i) the state general fund reductions taken by each Community Services Board (CSB) or Behavioral Health Authority (BHA) in fiscal year 2020 in anticipation of projected savings from the expansion of Medicaid eligibility to existing CSB clients who were previously uninsured; (ii) the actual Medicaid-generated reimbursements realized by each CSB/BHA in fiscal year 2019 as a result of the expansion of Medicaid eligibility to existing CSB clients who were previously uninsured; (iii) the state general fund reductions to be taken by each CSB/BHA in fiscal year 2020 in anticipation of projected savings from the expansion of Medicaid eligibility, and (iv) the amount of Medicaid reimbursements that each CSB/BHA would have to achieve in order to meet the anticipated general fund savings/budget reductions in fiscal year 2020, as well as any actions the Department proposes to take to address any shorfalls and to ensure continuity in the provision of services."



Explanation

(This amendment modifies language in the introduced budget which would allow the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to provide funding from special fund balances at the end of the fiscal year to CSBs in circumstances where a CSB's additional fiscal year 2019 Medicaid reimbursements do not reach at least 90 percent of the general fund reductions assumed in Chapter 2 for fiscal year 2020. Language would allow that assistance to be provided prior to the end of the fiscal year so that the provision of critical services is not disrupted. The amendment also clarifies that assistance may be provided to an individual CSB rather than requiring that Medicaid reimbursements to all CSBs fall short of general fund reductions before assistance may be provided. The amendment also requires the department to report to the Secretary of Finance and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees on how the expected general fund savings compare to actual Medicaid payments for fiscal year 2019 so that the expected general fund savings in fiscal year 2020 may be adjusted in amendments to the biennial budget during the 2020 Session of the General Assembly, if necessary.)