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09:35:48 PM |
Senators Kirkmeyer
and Fields, primary bill sponsors, presented House Bill 24-1038, which
creates and expands programs for youth who are in, or are at risk of being
placed in, out-of-home care, as described below. First, the bill directs
the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF), the Behavioral
Health Administration, and the Department of Human Services (CDHS) to create
a system of care for the youth populations that they deem appropriate,
including youth covered by Medicaid. At a minimum, the system must:
· implement tool that assesses treatment needs;
· provide intensive care coordination;
· expand access to treatment foster care (an
alternative to residential treatment facilities), including by increasing
access under the state Medicaid program; and
· expand access to supportive services under
the Children’s Habilitation Residential Program Waiver (CHRP - described
below in more detail).
The BHA must promulgate rules for implementation by October 1, 2024. HCPF
may promulgate rules and must implement the expanded access to treatment
foster care under Medicaid by January 1, 2025.The bill requires HCPF to
apply for federal approval to update the eligibility requirements for the
Children’s Habilitation Residential Program Waiver (CHRP), a program for
youth who are at risk of out-of-home placement. Currently, the program
is limited to youth with developmental disabilities. By January 1, 2025,
HCPF must apply for the program to include youth with serious emotional
disturbances. HCPF must evaluate its reimbursement rate for psychiatric
residential treatment facilities using an actuarial analysis from a third-party
vendor. Residential child care provider training academy. By July 1, 2026,
the CDHS must help staff, monitor, and improve residential child care facilities
by:
· creating an academy to train residential child
care providers;
· developing minimum standards and a monitoring
system;
· developing an incentive system to improve
performance; and
· reporting required information outlined in
the bill.
Emergency Residential Treatment Program. Finally, the bill continues and
expands theEmergency Residential Treatment Program, created as a response
to the COVID-19 pandemic, subject to available appropriations. The program
is expanded by:
· increasing the number of beds available;
· increasing the reimbursement rates;
· reimbursing for the cost of room and board
for any child eligible for Medicaid but not in the custody of a county;
· creating a pilot program within the program
for non-detained, justice-involved youth;
· contracting with additional providers; and
· increasing reporting requirements.
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