Bill Text: HI SB1494 | 2019 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating To Health.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-1)

Status: (Passed) 2019-07-09 - Act 263, 07/05/2019 (Gov. Msg. No. 1365). [SB1494 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2019-SB1494-Introduced.html

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1494

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to health.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the intersection between opioid and other substance abuse, mental health, and homelessness is inarguable, and that the State's overall mental health system of care needs to improve.  Effective integration of the behavioral health system is essential to ensuring that individuals experiencing chronic substance abuse, mental health conditions, homelessness, and other chronic conditions are afforded a continuum of care that promotes community stabilization and health while decreasing overutilization of high cost acute care services.

     The legislature also finds that coordinated entry systems have been successful in several counties and states on the mainland in ensuring that access to behavioral health and substance abuse services are more readily available and more effectively coordinated.  Therefore, the legislature concludes that coordinated entry systems and coordinated policy frameworks for evaluation and implementation of behavioral health and integrated health systems are necessary to effectively decrease and address the negative impacts of substance abuse, mental health conditions, and homelessness.

     The purpose of this Act is to establish a working group to evaluate current system gaps and determine steps that may be taken by the State to promote effective integration of behavioral health care and related systems to address the negative impacts of substance abuse, mental health conditions, and homelessness.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  There is established within the department of health a working group 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, mental health conditions, and homelessness.

     (b)  The working group shall consist of the following members:

     (1)  The director of health, or the director's designee, who shall serve as chair;

     (2)  One representative of the department of health behavioral health services administration;

     (3)  One representative of the department of public safety;

     (4)  One representative of the department of human services med-QUEST division;

     (5)  One representative of the judiciary;

     (6)  One or more representatives of the Hawaii Opioid Initiative executive steering committee;

     (7)  One representative each from the Hawaii Medical Service Association, Ohana Health Plan, UnitedHealthcare, UHA Health Insurance, and Kaiser Permanente;

     (8)  One or more members of the Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition;

     (9)  One clinical social worker licensed under chapter 467E, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

    (10)  Others as recommended by the working group.

     (c)  The working group shall evaluate:

     (1)  Inventory of funding streams and their metrics;

     (2)  Currently existing barriers to treatment access;

     (3)  Policies and practices that perpetuate or substantially contribute to access barriers;

     (4)  Practices that would improve care coordination and increase access to care;

     (5)  Policies or legislative actions that are recommended to effectuate coordinated entry and coordinated systems of behavioral health care; and

     (6)  Defined roles and responsibilities recommended of state, county, and community entities.

     (d)  Members of the working group shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for reasonable expenses necessary for the performance of their duties, including travel expenses.  No member of the working group shall be subject to chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statutes, solely because of the member's participation in the working group.

     (e)  The working group shall submit a report 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.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2019-2020 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the purposes of this Act.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

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

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Behavioral Health Care; Continuum of Care; Substance Abuse; Mental Health; Homelessness; Working Group; Appropriation

 

Description:

Establishes a working group to evaluate current behavioral health care and related system gaps related to the continuum of care for persons experiencing substance abuse, mental health conditions, and homelessness.  Makes an appropriation.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

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