S.P. 579 - L.D. 1744
Resolve, to Plan for Services for Children with Mental Health Needs
Sec. 1. Comprehensive plan. Resolved: That the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services, referred to in this section as the "department," in consultation with the Department of Corrections, the Department of Education and the Department of Human Services, shall design a comprehensive system of services for children with mental health needs to ensure that children receive services in the least restrictive and most appropriate settings. The system must provide for the reinvestment into children's mental health services of any savings achieved by switching from more expensive to less expensive means of delivering services. The department shall consult with providers, including psychiatrists and psychologists, and consumers and families of consumers of children's mental health services.
1. Plan development. The department shall define children's mental health services and assign areas of responsibility and accountability for providing children's mental health services.
2. Review of services. The department shall review existing children's mental health services and the expenditures for those services by the department and the Department of Corrections, the Department of Education and the Department of Human Services.
3. Analysis of need. The department shall analyze the current need for children's mental health services and any gaps and duplications in service delivery.
4. Study contracting. The department shall study contracting with public and private agencies and providers for the delivery of children's mental health services.
5. Design a system. The department shall design a system for delivering children's mental health services, including a safety net of services for those most in need.
6. Develop recommendations. The department shall develop recommendations, including statutory and budgetary changes, necessary to achieve the system designed under subsection 5.
7. Report. By December 15, 1997, the department shall submit a comprehensive plan for the delivery of children's mental health services to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services; and be it further
Sec. 2. Medicaid rules. Resolved: That in order to establish gatekeeper functions and responsibilities for the delivery of children's mental health services, within 30 days of the effective date of this resolve the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services and the Department of Human Services shall review current Medicaid rules for children's mental health services and shall adopt new rules consistent with the goal of providing a comprehensive network of children's services in the least restrictive and most appropriate settings; and be it further
Sec. 3. Progress report meetings. Resolved: That the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services and the Department of Human Services shall meet on a monthly basis with a 3-member subcommittee of the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services before the Second Regular Session of the 118th Legislature to report on the progress of the departments in designing a comprehensive system for the delivery of children's mental health services and designating gatekeeper responsibilities and functions. The subcommittee may not meet more than 4 times; and be it further
Sec. 4. Reimbursement. Resolved: That the legislative subcommittee is entitled to receive, upon application to the Executive Director of the Legislative Council, the legislative per diem, as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, section 2, and reimbursement for travel and other necessary expenses for attendance at progress report meetings; and be it further
Sec. 5. Appropriation. Resolved: That the following funds are appropriated from the General Fund to carry out the purposes of this resolve.
1997-98
LEGISLATURE
Miscellaneous Study Commissions
Personal Services $660
All Other 600
__________
TOTAL $1,260
Provides funds for the per diem and expenses of legislative members to participate in progress report meetings with the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services and the Department of Human Services.
Effective September 19, 1997, unless otherwise indicated.
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