SB 6558 expands intensive home and community-based children’s services previously provided through a wraparound pilot program and repurposes pilot funding toward a similar statewide model to serve children with serious mental health needs.
The bill requires the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) beginning July 1, 2014, to implement statewide a wraparound with intensive services Medicaid program of integrated home and community-based children’s mental health services. DSHS must prioritize service areas where pilot programs were previously established first on the phase-in implementation schedule. Additionally, SB 6558 identifies a variety of referral sources for the wraparound model, including: self-referral from the child or child’s family, regional support networks, mental health or medical provider, tribe or tribal court, health care authority, DSHS, county juvenile courts, schools and law enforcement. There is a requirement to track, monitor and report on outcomes and provide implementation outcome reports to the Office of Financial Management and the appropriate committees of the legislature.
SB 6558 appropriates $250,000 from the general fund–state for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, $7,991,000 is appropriated from the general fund–state for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, and $7,221,000 is appropriated from the general fund–federal for the 2013-2015 biennium to DSHS to expand these services.
As amended in Ways and Means: Language was added to clarify the group of children which will be served by the Medicaid program. Additionally, the appropriations were removed.
As amended in House Early Learning and Human Services: As amended, SB6558 specifies that the Wraparound With Intensive Services (WISe) include intensive care coordination, intensive home and community services, and mobile crisis intervention and stablization services. Further, it requires DSHS to develop standards, policies and protocols to direct the implementation of WISe; and it specifies that DSHS will prioritize service areas based on provider readiness and develop a schedule for phase-in by county.
