For amend and vote only, the Senate Appropriations Committee heard SB 1 on behavioral health matters authored by Sen. Crider. This bill provides that, not later than December 31, 2024, the office of the secretary of Family and Social Services shall apply to the United States Department of Health and Human Services for a Medicaid state plan amendment, a waiver, or an amendment to an existing waiver to require reimbursement for eligible certified community behavioral health clinic services; or to participate in the expansion of a community mental health services demonstration program. It also requires the Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA) to establish and maintain a help line to provide confidential emotional support and referrals to certain resources to individuals who call the help line; and that is accessible by calling a toll-free telephone number. Finally, the bill re-establishes the Indiana Behavioral Health Commission.
The bill was amended by consent to better align the timeline for DMHA to apply for grants, reduce the number of members on the Indiana Behavioral Health Commission to eight, and remove the appropriation. The amended bill passed 13-0.
Read the bill at: https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2023/bills/senate/1