SB473: relative to services provided by community mental health centers.

SB 473-FN-LOCAL - AS INTRODUCED

2004 SESSION

04-3187

01/10

SENATE BILL 473-FN-LOCAL

AN ACT relative to services provided by community mental health centers.

SPONSORS: Sen. Martel, Dist 18; Sen. Kenney, Dist 3; Sen. O'Hearn, Dist 12; Sen. Clegg, Dist 14; Rep. P. Katsakiores, Rock 77; Rep. Batula, Hills 58; Rep. Kurk, Hills 48; Rep. Emerton, Hills 48; Rep. Flanagan, Rock 78

COMMITTEE: Public Institutions, Health and Human Services

ANALYSIS

This bill:

I. Requires the commissioner of the department of health and human services, in consultation with the oversight committee on health and human services, to make a report relative to the nature and cost of services provided pursuant to RSA 135-C.

II. Requires the oversight committee on health and human services to develop legislation to amend RSA 135-C to clarify state-supported mental health services.

III. Repeals the provision of law, effective July 1, 2005, allowing the department of health and human services, through its network of community mental health centers, to provide mental health services to persons in need of mental health treatment who are not severely mentally disabled.

This bill is a request of the department of health and human services.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

04-3187

01/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Four

AN ACT relative to services provided by community mental health centers.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Statement of Purpose. The general court hereby acknowledges the state's responsibility, pursuant to RSA 135-C, to provide mental health services to those citizens who are "seriously mentally disabled" as that term is defined in RSA 135-C:2, XV. The general court recognizes that it may also be appropriate and fiscally responsible to provide certain mental health services to individuals who are not "seriously mentally disabled." Therefore, the general court hereby establishes a framework to determine:

I. What state-supported services should be provided to individuals who are seriously mentally disabled; and

II. What state-supported services should be provided to individuals with mental illness who are not seriously mentally disabled.

2 State-Supported Mental Health Services; Report Required.

I. The commissioner of the department of health and human services shall make a comprehensive report on the nature and cost of services provided pursuant to RSA 135-C to the oversight committee on health and human services, established pursuant to RSA 126-A:13, on or before October 1, 2004. The report shall include recommendations relative to:

(a) What state-supported services should be provided to individuals who are seriously mentally disabled, as defined in RSA 135-C:2, XV.

(b) What state-supported services should be provided to individuals with mental illness who are not seriously mentally disabled.

II. The commissioner shall consult the oversight committee to determine the structure of the report and the information to be included. The commissioner shall also consult with stakeholders in the mental health system in the preparation of the report.

3 Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services; Legislation Required. Upon receipt of the report required under section 2 of this act, the oversight committee on health and human services shall, in consultation with the department of health and human services and stakeholders in the mental health system, develop legislation to be introduced in the 2005 legislative session to amend RSA 135-C to clarify the state-supported mental health services which are to be provided to those individuals who are seriously mentally disabled and to other individuals who are mentally ill but are not seriously mentally disabled.

4 Repeal. RSA 135-C:14, relative to optional services, is repealed.

5 Effective Date.

I. Section 4 of this act shall take effect July 1, 2005.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.

LBAO

04-3187

Revised 1/5/04

SB 473 FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT relative to services provided by community mental health centers.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Department of Health and Human Services indicated this bill will have an indeterminable impact on state and county expenditures and state revenue in FY 2006 and in each year thereafter. There will be no fiscal impact on county and local revenue or local expenditures.

METHODOLOGY:

The Department assumed optional services are prevention, emergency, information and referral, consultation, education, and other services. Other services include disaster response, support to families which have a member with severe mental disability or emotional disturbance, and mental health treatment for people without a severe mental disability who are eligible for Medicaid. Using FY 2003 actual expenditures, the Department assumes the following impact on state expenditures and revenue starting in FY 2006:

Expenditures Revenue Funding Source

Emergency Services ($ 236,000) ($ 118,000) 50% general / 50% federal

Family Support (434,455) 0 general funds

Disaster Response (150,000) (150,000) federal funds

Medicaid Mental Health Services (1,984,000) (992,000) 50% general / 50% federal

Total ($2,804,455) ($1,260,000)

The Department assumed there will be an additional increase in costs and revenue since the services eliminated reduce utilization of more expensive services such as hospitalization. The Department further assumes there will be additional costs to the counties for providing beds at the county jails. The Department can not estimate these additional fiscal impacts.