The House Public Health Committee heard SB 464 on mental health issues sponsored by Rep. Clere and Rep. Davisson. The bill:
- Establishes reimbursement limitations for the prescription of methadone for pain management.
- Provides that addictions counseling, inpatient detoxification services, and long-acting, non-addicting medication may be required to treat opioid or alcohol addiction as a condition of parole, probation, community corrections, community transition programming, pretrial diversion, or participation in a problem-solving court.
- Establishes In-patient detoxification services under Medicaid.
- Establishes non-addicting medication assisted treatment for the treatment of substance abuse under the Indiana check-up plan.
- Authorizes the Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA) to approve no more than five new opioid treatment programs prior to June 30, 2018.
- Requires prescribers to indicate on the prescription when methadone is prescribed for pain management.
- Establishes of the Mental Health and Addiction Forensic Treatment Services fund under the administration of DMHA to be used for grants and vouchers for mental health and addiction treatment services to community corrections, court administered programs, probation, community mental health centers, and certified mental health and addictions providers.
- Establishes the qualifying criteria for individuals to receive funding from the Mental Health and Addiction Forensic Treatment Services fund.
- Requires DMHA to survey recipients of Mental Health and Addiction Forensic Treatment Services funds.
- Requires DMHA to coordinate employment and training services for individuals receiving money from the Mental Health and Addiction Forensic Treatment Services fund with the Department of Workforce Development.
An amendment was adopted by committee consent, making several changes to the bill, including:
- Adds case management and daily living skills to the available treatment options that may be required as a condition of parole, probation, community corrections, community transition programming, pretrial diversion, or participation in a problem-solving court.
- Reinserts the provision concerning the Department of Correction operational savings as a result of HEA 1006-2014 and authorizes these funds to be deposited in the Mental Health and Addiction Forensic Treatment Services account.
- Requires DMHA to provide education and training on the use of involuntary commitments and medication assisted treatment to circuit and superior court judges, prosecuting attorneys and deputy prosecuting attorneys, public defenders and programs and providers eligible for funding from the Mental Health and Addiction Forensic Treatment Services account.
The amended bill passed 10-0.
Read the bill at http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2015/bills/senate/464.