State SealARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 

SB 1246: behavioral health; foster children

PRIME SPONSOR: Senator Brophy McGee, LD 28

BILL STATUS: Transmitted to Governor

 

Overview

☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal NoteRequires the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) to provide behavioral health services to eligible children if certain conditions are met.

History

The Comprehensive Medical and Dental Program (CMDP) is the health plan responsible for ensuring, in partnership with foster care providers, the provision of appropriate and quality health care services for the well-being of Arizona's children in foster care.

A.R.S. § 8-512 requires DCS  to provide CMDP services for each child who is: in a voluntary placement; in the custody of DCS in an out-of-home placement; and in the custody of a probation department and placed in foster care. CMDP consists of those benefits provided by the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) and as set forth in the approved Medicaid state plan.

Provisions

1.       Removes outdated provisions related to the CMDP program.  (Sec. 1)

2.       Requires DCS to provide CMDP, including behavioral health services, for each child that meets the requirements (conditional enactment date). (Sec. 2)

3.       Eliminates a provision that allows a provider that has an agreement registration to be employed through the CMDP program by the foster parent, relative, certified adoptive parent, agency or department having responsibility for the child. (Sec. 2)

4.       Exempts services provided by AHCCCS as set forth in the state Medicaid plan from contracts entered into by DCS to procurement requirements. (Sec. 3)

5.       Contains a conditional enactment clause for DCS to provide behavioral health services to eligible members for the CMDP program that does not become effective unless by January 1, 2024 funding is made available by the federal government and this state. (Sec. 4)

6.       Requires DCS to notify, in writing, the director of the Arizona Legislative Council by February 1, 2024:

a.       Of the date on which the condition was met; or

b.       That the condition was not met. (Sec. 4)

7.       Contains an effective date for behavioral health services conditioned on available federal funding. (Sec. 5)

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11.   Fifty-fourth Legislature                       SB 1246

12.   First Regular Session                            Version 5: Transmitted

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