Sec. 8. Developing guidance on building capacity for addressing the mental health care needs of individuals in or at risk of involvement with the criminal justice system under the Medicaid program
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/bill/116/s/2690/is/section-8A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Not later than 2 years after enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the Secretary ), acting through the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, shall— issue a State Medicaid Director letter, based on best practices developed under subsection (b), regarding existing flexibility in the Medicaid program to expand the capacity to provide targeted mental health services for individuals at high risk of criminal justice involvement; disseminate such letter to providers; and publish such letter on the public internet websites of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
In developing the letter under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with relevant stakeholders, including— State Medicaid directors; providers and suppliers of services; Medicaid managed care organizations; health care consumers or groups representing such consumers; and other entities, as the Secretary determines appropriate, that can help to develop best practices for States with respect to the issues described in subsection (c). The letter described in subsection
(a)shall include, with respect to hospitals, community health centers, and individuals described in such subsection— suggestions for increasing capacity for community mental health care and social supports, such as housing; suggestions for delivering mental health care in a coordinated way; suggestions for financing and providing targeted mental health and crisis intervention services; and incentives for models (such as managed care) that target and coordinate care to reach individuals who most need such care.