The House Public Health Committee heard HB 1269 concerning mental health matters, authored by Rep. Clere. As reported previously, this bill addresses several mental health issues including:
- authorizing the DOC or jail to serve as a representative of inmates for the purposes of applying for Medicaid eligibility;
- requiring the DOC or jail to assist inmates apply for Medicaid prior to release from incarceration;
- requiring a person who is arrested and taken into custody to be assessed by a qualified and licensed mental health or addictions professional to determine if the person has a mental illness or substance addiction, establishing required reporting of assessment results and providing for re-assessments until release; and,
- appropriating $22,000,000 to the forensic diversion account on an annual basis and providing that this account is established to fund the custodial assessments following arrest.
This week, an amendment was introduced requiring accident and health insurance coverage to be equal for telemedicine services as they are for in-person delivered health care services. The amendment also makes inmates on work release or other DOC programming involving alternative sentencing eligible for Medicaid, subject to federal approval. Additionally, it establishes annual reporting requirements for the Office of Medicaid policy and planning to report on the use of qualified providers to undertake presumptive eligibility services determinations. Testimony was heard in favor of the amendment from the Director of Indiana Medicaid, a representative of the Indiana Council of Community Mental Health Centers, a representative from IU Health, and a representative from a private health services provider. The amendment was adopted by consent, and the bill passed 12-0.
Read the bill at http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2015/bills/house/1269.