THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1019

THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND HOMELESS SERVICES.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that long-standing and growing community problems, such as homelessness, can be addressed more effectively through greater integration, lower fragmentation of payment models, and standard performance metrics.  The siloed approach in which state-funded services currently are financed and purchased leads to:

     (1)  Increased administrative burden on service providers and any relevant state funding agencies;

     (2)  Disparate and inequitable reimbursement rates paid for similar services;

     (3)  Dissimilar contract terms regarding payment, evaluation processes, and quality assurance metrics; and

     (4)  Duplication and waste of resources.

     The inconsistencies in procuring social services, especially those for behavioral health care payers and homelessness services, often result in patients receiving uncoordinated care across a variety of services from public providers, contracted providers, and other private providers.  This irregularity also perpetuates the disparity in monitoring outcomes and results of services purchased by the State.

     The legislature further finds that the consumers and patients of state behavioral health services should have an improved quality of behavioral health care.  Act 90, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019, established the involuntary hospitalization task force to evaluate current behavioral health care and related systems, including existing resources, systems gaps, and identification of action steps.  Act 263, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019, established a working group within the department of health to evaluate current behavioral health care and related systems and identify steps that may be taken to promote effective integration to more effectively respond to and coordinate care for persons experiencing substance abuse, behavioral health conditions, and homelessness.

     Both the involuntary hospitalization task force and working group submitted reports of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2020.  Since then, the behavioral health services administration within the department of health has made strides in implementing the recommendations and closing service gaps, as proved by the expansion of the Hawaii coordinated access resource entry system (CARES) and the recent implementation of stabilization beds for sub-acute care.  However, there is still much work to be done for the State to realize the goal of a comprehensive, coordinated care system for behavioral health and homelessness services.

     The legislature recognizes that it can promote greater coordination and enhance recent advancements by enacting legislation that formalizes the multi-sectoral coordination of purchasing services for behavioral health and homelessness services at optimal value and impact.  Given the current economic situation facing the State, it is in the State's best interest to do so.  Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Establish a state payor committee to be administratively placed within the behavioral health services administration of the department of health to:

          (A)  Establish uniform baseline performance metrics and evaluation standards for all state procurement contracts for services relating to behavioral health, substance abuse, and homelessness services;

          (B)  Establish uniform reimbursement rates for all state procurement contracts for services relating to behavioral health, substance abuse, and homelessness services; and

          (C)  Review and recommend approval for all state procurement contracts for services relating to behavioral health, substance abuse, and homelessness services;

     (2)  Require that, beginning July 1, 2021, all state procurement contracts for services relating to behavioral health, substance abuse, or homelessness services be reviewed by the state payor committee prior to further approval, initiation, continuation, or renewal; and

     (3)  Require nongovernmental entities that contract for services relating to behavioral health, substance abuse, and homelessness services to disclose, at the request of any state funding agency, the source of other federal, state, or county level funding received for the purposes of performing any behavioral health, substance abuse, or homelessness services.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  There is established a state payor committee within the behavioral health services administration of the department of health, which shall consist of the following members or their designees:

     (1)  Director of the department of health;

     (2)  State procurement officer; and

     (3)  Representatives from all the executive programs that award procurement contracts for services relating to behavioral health, substance abuse, or homelessness services; provided that these representatives be designated by the heads of their respective programs.

     (b)  Beginning no later than July 1, 2021, no state procurement contracts for services relating to behavioral health, substance abuse, or homelessness services shall be initiated, renewed, or continued unless reviewed and approved by the state payor committee.

     (c)  The committee shall establish and adopt:

     (1)  Uniform baseline performance metrics and evaluation standards, and

     (2)  Uniform reimbursement rates,

for all state procurement contracts for services relating to behavioral health, substance abuse, and homelessness services.

     SECTION 3.  All community or private entities that contract for services relating to behavioral health, substance abuse, or homelessness services shall disclose, at the request of any state funding agency, the source of other federal, state, or county level funding received for the purposes of performing any such services.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Procurement; Behavioral Health Services; State Payor Committee

 

Description:

Establishes the state payor committee within the department of health to:  (1) establish uniform baseline performance metrics and evaluation standards for procurement contracts for services relating to behavioral health, substance abuse, and homelessness services; (2) establish uniform reimbursement rates for such  contracts; and (3) review and recommend approval for such contracts.  Requires that such contracts be reviewed by the Committee prior to approval, initiation, continuation, or renewal beginning 7/1/21.  Requires nongovernmental entities that contract for services relating to behavioral health, substance abuse, or homelessness services to disclose any sources of funding to perform such services.

 

 

 

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