SPECIALTY SERVICES PANEL - S.B. 1418 & 1419: COMMITTEE SUMMARY
Senate Bills 1418 and 1419 (as introduced 10-5-00)
Sponsor: Senator Bev Hammerstrom (Senate Bill 1418)
Senator Shirley Johnson (Senate Bill 1419)
Committee: Families, Mental Health and Human Services
CONTENT
Senate Bill 1418 would amend the Social Welfare Act to require the Governor the create a specialty services panel within the Department of Community Health (DCH), which would have to review applications for participation submitted by community mental health services programs or other managing entities, and serve in an advisory capacity to the DCH Director.
Senate Bill 1419 would amend the Social Welfare Act to do all of the following:
-- Require that the DCH support the use of Medicaid funds for specialty services and supports for eligible Medicaid beneficiaries with a serious mental illness, emotional disturbance, or substance abuse addiction.
-- Require that Medicaid-covered specialty services and supports be managed and delivered by specialty prepaid health plans chosen by the DCH with advice and recommendations from the proposed specialty services panel.
-- Require that the specialty services and supports be carved out from the basic Medicaid health care benefits package.
A more detailed description of Senate Bill 1418 follows.
In addition to reviewing applications for participation, the specialty services panel would serve in an advisory capacity to the DCH Director regarding performance and quality relating to Medicaid specialty services and supports. The panel would have access to all aggregate quality management information gathered by the DCH relating to the managing entities.
The specialty services panel would consist of the following members, appointed by the Governor:
-- The DCH Director, or the Director's representative.
-- Two other members representing the DCH.
-- The Director of the Department of Management and Budget, or the Director's representative.
-- Four members representing primary consumers or family members. (At least one of these four members would have to represent substance abuse services.)
-- Four members representing other stakeholders, including one representative each from the statewide advocacy organizations representing adults with serious mental illness, children with serious emotional disturbance, and individuals with developmental disabilities. (At least one of these four members would have to be a county commissioner.)
Panel members would serve four-year staggered terms, or until a successor was appointed, whichever was later. If a vacancy occurred on the panel, the Governor would have to make an appointment for the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment. A member of the specialty services panel would have to make known any matter in which he or she had a potential conflict of interest.
The panel would have to meet at least twice per year, and would remain in existence to serve in an advisory capacity to the DCH Director.
Proposed MCL 400.109g (S.B. 1418) - Legislative Analyst: P. Affholter
Proposed MCL 400.109f (S.B. 1419)
FISCAL IMPACT
Senate Bill 1418
The only costs that could result from this bill would be the per diem costs for the proposed panel's meetings.
Senate Bill 1419
This bill would effectively codify current State policy. The only change would be the possibility of other organizations' becoming a gate-keeper for mental health services.
- Fiscal Analyst: S. AngelottiS9900\s1418sa
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.