Assigned to HEA & APPROP                                                                                       FOR COMMITTEE

 

 

 

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Phoenix, Arizona

 

FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2194

 

community health centers

 

Purpose

 

            Appropriates $2.5 million annually from the tobacco tax and health care fund medically needy account to the Department of Health Services (DHS) for a community mental health program.

 

Background

 

Statute defines “qualifying community health centers” as community-based primary care facilities that provide medical care in medically underserved areas or to medically underserved populations (A.R.S. § 36-2907.06).  In general, community health centers treat patients of Medicare, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) and private health insurance and uninsured patients.  Currently, only two community health centers provide limited general mental health on-site.

 

            H.B. 2194 attempts to integrate primary health care and behavioral health services in qualifying community health centers by appropriating $2.5 million annually from the medically needy account to DHS for a community mental health program.  Covered services include general mental health and psychiatric services, individual and group counseling, prescription medications, case management, outreach programs and transportation.

 

Provisions

 

1.      Requires the AHCCCS administration to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with DHS to contract with regional behavioral health authorities (RBHAs) to integrate behavioral health and primary care services for uninsured and underinsured patients of community health centers who are:

 

a. residents of Arizona.

b. from families with income up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

c. not eligible for Title XIX services.

d. not covered for behavioral health services by health care insurance.

 

2.      Prescribes goals for the community mental health program, including the promotion of collaboration between behavioral health and primary health care providers.

 

3.      Requires the RBHA to subcontract with qualifying community health centers to provide specific mental health services, including psychiatric services, mental health counseling, case management and prescription services.

 

4.      Requires services to be provided at a community health center or location agreed to by the RBHA and the center.

 

5.      Requires eligible individuals to pay for services based on a sliding fee schedule approved by DHS.

 

6.      Requires contracting RHBAs and community health centers to submit information to DHS for annual tobacco tax program evaluations.

 

7.      Defines “qualifying community health center.”

 

8.      Appropriates, as the fourth order of priority, $2.5 million annually to DHS for the community mental health program.

 

9.      Provides for a general effective date.

 

House Action

 

HEA                1/15/01            DP       10-0-0-0

APPROP         2/27/01            DPA    13-0-0-3

3rd Read           3/12/01                        50-1-9-0

 

 

Prepared by Senate Staff

March 22, 2001