The bill requires the department of health care policy and
financing (department) to prepare a report of medicaid reimbursement rates for community mental health providers and independent mental health and substance use treatment providers. The department must hire an independent auditor to prepare the report and provide recommendations on the report to be presented to the house of
representatives public and behavioral health and human services committee. The department is required to prepare recommendations based on the audit findings and recommendations to create equitable payment models between providers of community mental health centers and independent mental health and substance use treatment providers providing comparable behavioral health services.
The audit conducted must reflect data from state fiscal year
2020-21 and include a determination and recommendations on the adequacy of reimbursement rates paid to medicaid mental health providers. The department must present an action plan to implement changes to reimbursement rates based on the findings of the audit to the joint budget committee before November 15, 2022. The department must also prepare an annual report and provide an update at the State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Government Act hearing annually through August 1, 2025.
The bill requires the department to publish an annual cost report
on or before March 15 of each year. The department must establish a cost report template and cost reporting schedule to assist providers in relaying cost information to the state department. The bill requires the department to establish a transparency report that translates the cost report data into meaningful and actionable information to ensure equity in provider compensation and adequate access to care for medicaid members.
