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2024 Session

Budget Amendments - SB30 (Member Request)

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Chief Patron: Favola
Incentive for Involuntary Inpatient Admissions

Item 296 #6s

Item 296 #6s

First Year - FY2025 Second Year - FY2026
Health and Human Resources
Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services FY2025 $5,000,000 FY2026 $5,000,000 GF

Language
Page 362, line 46, strike "$180,301,644" and insert "$185,301,644".
Page 362, line 46, strike "$139,938,012" and insert "$144,938,012".

Page 366, after line 11, insert:

"X. 1. Out of this appropriation, $5,000,000 the first year and $5,000,000 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) to establish and implement a program to provide funding for those state-licensed inpatient psychiatric units and facilities that formally agree, as part of a program developed and managed by DBHDS, to increase the number of involuntary inpatient admissions they accept compared to the number accepted in the previous year.

2. To receive funding through this program, providers must: (i) demonstrate the need for this additional funding through an application to DBHDS; and (ii) formally commit to increasing the number of involuntary inpatient admissions they accept.

3. The amount of funding for each provider shall be based on: (i) the magnitude of the proposed increase in the provider's involuntary admissions; and (ii) the types of changes the provider needs to make to its facilities, programming, or staffing which shall be justified in its funding application. Funding may be used to cover one-time and ongoing costs of changes that are deemed necessary to admit and treat such patients, including for creating and filling additional security positions, creating and filling additional staff positions, providing staff training on how to safely treat patients admitted for involuntary treatment, and improving safety features of the facilities. DBHDS shall report annually on: (i) the number of providers awarded funding through this program; (ii) the amount of funding awarded in total and by provider; (iii) the number of additional involuntary admissions providers formally agree to accept in total and by provider; and (iv) the proposed uses of funding. Reports shall be submitted to the Chairs of House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees by December 1 of each year. DBHDS shall also require providers who receive funding for ongoing costs related to accepting additional involuntary admissions to submit evidence that they have met their commitment to increasing involuntary admissions, and doing so will be a condition for receiving funding beyond the first year of the provider's initial receipt of funding."



Explanation

(This amendment provides $5.0 million each year from the general fund directing the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to establish a program for state-licensed psychiatric hospitals to provide funding for hospitals that agree to increase the percentage of involuntary inpatient admissions they accept and demonstrate the need for funding to safely admit such patients. Funds could be provided to cover one-time and on-going costs for creating and filling additional security positions, providing staff training on how to safely treat these patients, and making safety improve to the facilities. This is a JLARC recommendation.)