Mental health and substance abuse appropriations.

WORKING DRAFT

ORIGINAL SENATE

FILE

NO.
0076

ENROLLED ACT NO. 77, SENATE

FIFTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF
WYOMING
2007 GENERAL SESSION

AN ACT relating to mental health and substance abuse services; providing appropriations; providing continuous appropriations; specifying conditions; authorizing positions; continuing a study of mental health and substance abuse service delivery systems; requiring reports; and providing for effective dates.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of
Wyoming
:

Section 1.

Wyoming
state hospital co-occurring conditions treatment program.

(a)

There is appropriated three hundred eighty-three thousand six hundred sixty dollars ($383,660.00), or as much thereof as is necessary, from the general fund to the Wyoming state hospital, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007 and ending June 30, 2008. The funds appropriated under this subsection shall only be used to implement a program to treat individuals with co-occurring diagnoses of serious, persistent mental illness and alcohol/substance abuse, dependence or addiction. The program shall provide initial psychiatric symptom stabilization, followed by a treatment intervention, using multi-therapeutic interventions to include social integration and rehabilitation, vocational guidance and individualized recovery and rehabilitation goals to manage the person's mental illness and substance abuse issues.

(b)

The
Wyoming
state hospital is authorized eight (8) full-time equivalent positions to implement the program specified in subsection (a) of this section.

(c)

The department of health shall include a request in its 2009-2010 standard budget request for purposes of continuing funding of the program specified in subsection (a) of this section and the positions authorized under subsection (b) of this section.

Section 2.

Regional residential treatment for persons with co-occurring disorders.

There is appropriated eight hundred twenty-eight thousand eight hundred fifty dollars ($828,850.00), or as much thereof as is necessary, from the general fund to the department of health, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007 and ending June 30, 2008. The funds appropriated under this subsection shall only be used to fund not more than one (1) treatment facility in the state to serve persons with co-occurring disorders of mental illness and alcohol or substance abuse. The facility shall be selected by the department of health, in consultation with the mental health division and the substance abuse division, through a competitive bid process.

Section 3.

Salary increases; substance abuse providers.

(a)

There is appropriated one million three hundred fifty-nine thousand five hundred twenty-two dollars ($1,359,522.00), or as much thereof as is necessary, from the general fund to the department of health, substance abuse division, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007 and ending June 30, 2008.

(b)

The appropriation under this section shall be distributed to community substance abuse treatment centers under contract with the division and shall only be expended by the community substance abuse treatment centers to increase the salaries of direct care personnel in community substance abuse treatment centers.

Section 4.

Salary increases; mental health providers.

(a)

There is appropriated one million eight hundred twenty-six thousand one hundred forty-eight dollars ($1,826,148.00), or as much thereof as is necessary, from the general fund to the department of health, mental health division, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007 and ending June 30, 2008.

(b)

The appropriation under this section shall be distributed to community mental health centers under contract with the division and shall only be expended by the community mental health centers to increase the salaries of direct care personnel in community mental health centers.

Section 5.

Supported housing.

(a)

There is appropriated two million two hundred nine thousand nine hundred dollars ($2,209,900.00), or as much thereof as is necessary, from the general fund to the department of health, mental health division, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007 and ending June 30, 2008. The funds appropriated under this subsection shall be used to enable community mental health centers to provide community-based housing and residential services for clients with serious and persistent mental illness. The residential services shall include appropriate support to enable the residents in the housing to develop or improve daily living skills, including self-care, meal preparation, shopping and budgeting proficiencies so the client may successfully remain in an independent living situation. The funds under this subsection shall only be expended as follows:

(i)

Not more than one hundred ninety-four thousand one hundred fifty dollars ($194,150.00) to a community mental health center that enters into a contract with the mental health division to establish ten (10) supervised apartments in Albany county;

(ii)

Not more than two million fifteen thousand seven hundred fifty dollars ($2,015,750.00) to the mental health division to enter into contracts with community mental health centers that agree to establish a group home in each of the following regions of the state:

(A)

In the southeast region of
Wyoming
;

(B)

In the northeast region of
Wyoming
;

(C)

In the southwest region of
Wyoming
;

(D)

In the northwest region of
Wyoming
; and

(E)

In the central region of
Wyoming
.

Section 6.

Services for seniors with mental illness.

(a)

There is appropriated twenty-seven thousand dollars ($27,000.00), or as much thereof as is necessary, from the general fund to the department of health, mental health division, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007 and ending June 30, 2008. The funds appropriated under this subsection shall only be used to provide one (1) training program per year to clinical staff who work in community mental health or substance abuse centers with older adults who have mental health or alcohol or substance abuse problems.

(b)

There is appropriated seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000.00), or as much thereof as is necessary, from the general fund to the department of health, mental health division, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007 and ending June 30, 2008. The funds appropriated under this subsection shall only be used to provide specialized training throughout the state to nursing home staff who work with older adults who have mental health or alcohol or substance abuse problems.

Section 7.

Mental health regional services enhancements.

(a)

There is appropriated one hundred forty-two thousand two hundred dollars ($142,200.00), or as much thereof as is necessary, from the general fund to the department of health, mental health division, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007 and ending June 30, 2008. The appropriation under this subsection shall be one-time funding. The funds appropriated under this subsection shall only be used to purchase not more than eighteen (18) self-contained telepsychiatry equipment units each consisting of, at minimum, a monitor, a high definition camera, a microphone and necessary software. The self-contained telepsychiatry equipment units shall be distributed to community mental health centers that do not have such equipment to enable the centers to provide telepsychiatry in rural and frontier areas of the state.
Each community mental health center receiving a self-contained telepsychiatry equipment unit under this subsection shall, no later than August 1, 2008, submit to the mental health division a report containing information with respect to the usage of the equipment including, but not limited to, the number of clients served with the equipment, the number of staff who provided services using the equipment, their professional duties with the center, and any other information the mental health division may require. The division shall compile the information received from the community mental health centers under this subsection and submit a report containing that information no later than September 1, 2008, to the joint appropriations interim committee, the joint labor, health and social services interim committee and the select committee on mental health and substance abuse services, if the select committee is in existence on September 1, 2008.

(b)

There is appropriated nine hundred seventy-one thousand two hundred fifty dollars ($971,250.00), or as much thereof as is necessary, from the general fund to the department of health, mental health division, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007 and ending June 30, 2008. The funds appropriated under this subsection shall only be used to enable community mental health centers to contract with psychiatrists, including those who may be accessed through telepsychiatry services. Funds under this subsection shall be distributed within regions of the state designated by the mental health division, upon application showing that one (1) or more community mental health centers that are under contract with the mental health division within the designated region have contracted with a qualified psychiatrist to provide the services authorized under this section. Community mental health centers receiving funds under this subsection shall only expend the funds to contract with a psychiatrist under this subsection. Any funds unobligated and unexpended under this subsection on June 30, 2008, shall revert to the budget reserve account.

(c)

There is appropriated five hundred sixty thousand dollars ($560,000.00), or as much thereof as is necessary, from the general fund to the department of health, mental health division, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007 and ending June 30, 2008. The funds appropriated under this subsection shall only be used to enhance the availability of nursing support services in conjunction with the psychiatrists under contract with community mental health centers in regions of the state as designated by the mental health division. Funds under this subsection shall be distributed within regions of the state designated by the mental health division, upon application showing that community mental health centers under contract with the state have contracted with qualified nursing staff to provide the support to psychiatrists under contract with the centers. Community mental health centers receiving funds under this subsection shall only expend the funds to contract with nurses under this subsection. Any funds unobligated and unexpended under this subsection on June 30, 2008, shall revert to the budget reserve account.

(d)

There is appropriated seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000.00), or as much thereof as is necessary, from the general fund to the department of health, mental health division, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007 and ending June 30, 2008. The funds appropriated under this subsection shall only be used to provide regional training of general or specialty practice physicians on the identification, diagnosis and pharmacological treatment of common mental health and substance abuse problems. The training sessions shall be conducted by a contractor selected by the mental health division through a competitive bid process.

(e)

There is appropriated four hundred thirty-two thousand eight hundred dollars ($432,800.00), or as much thereof as is necessary, from the general fund to the department of health, mental health division, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007 and ending June 30, 2008. The funds appropriated under this subsection shall be distributed to community mental health centers under contract with the mental health division to enhance ancillary transportation support services for clients of the community mental health centers. The funds under this subsection shall be distributed to community mental health centers within regions of the state designated by the mental health division under the existing distribution formula within each region only upon a commitment by the community mental health centers within the region to develop a coordinated plan for transportation throughout the region.

(f)

There is appropriated three hundred fifty-six thousand two hundred forty dollars ($356,240.00), or as much thereof as is necessary, from the general fund to the department of health, mental health division, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007 and ending June 30, 2008. The funds appropriated under this subsection shall only be used to expand the availability of respite care statewide. The mental health division shall contract with community mental health centers for respite care for families and caregivers of clients unable to care for themselves to provide the respite care funded under this subsection. The funds under this subsection shall be distributed to community mental health centers within regions of the state designated by the mental health division under the existing distribution formula within each region only upon a commitment by the community mental health centers within the region to coordinate respite care throughout the region.

Section 8.

Mental health services for infants and children.

There is appropriated seven hundred twenty thousand dollars ($720,000.00), or as much thereof as is necessary, from the general fund to the department of health, mental health division, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007 and ending June 30, 2008. The funds appropriated under this subsection shall only be used by community mental health centers to contract with the equivalent of not more than ten (10) full-time master's degree level therapists. The persons under contract with community mental health centers pursuant to this section shall provide early intervention services for families with preschool age children who are experiencing or are at risk of behavioral, mental or alcohol or substance abuse disorders. Funds under this section shall only be distributed to community mental health centers that have established interagency collaborations within the region designated by the division in which the center is located to provide early intervention services as specified in this subsection. Community mental health centers receiving funds under this section shall only expend the funds to contract with therapists as authorized by this section. Any funds unobligated and unexpended under this section on June 30, 2008, shall revert to the budget reserve account.

Section 9.

Base funding increase for mental health centers and substance abuse providers.

(a)

There is appropriated sixteen thousand one hundred dollars ($16,100.00), or as much thereof as is necessary, from the general fund to the department of health, mental health division, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007 and ending June 30, 2008. The funds appropriated under this subsection shall be used to increase the base funding for each community mental health center providing services under contract with the mental health division. The funds under this subsection shall be in addition to the existing base funding authorized for community mental health centers providing services under contract with the mental health division and shall establish a base funding level of seventy-seven thousand dollars ($77,000.00) per year for each county.

(b)

There is appropriated seven hundred twenty-nine thousand dollars ($729,000.00), or as much thereof as is necessary, from the general fund to the department of health, substance abuse division, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007 and ending June 30, 2008. The funds appropriated under this subsection shall be used to increase the base funding for each community substance abuse treatment center providing services under contract with the substance abuse division. The funds under this subsection shall be in addition to the existing base funding authorized for community substance abuse treatment centers providing services under contract with the substance abuse division and shall establish a base funding level of seventy-seven thousand dollars ($77,000.00) per year for each such community substance abuse treatment center.

Section 10.

Department of health; remodeling and expansion costs for mental health and substance abuse divisions.

(a)

There is appropriated three hundred seventy-nine thousand three hundred twenty-three dollars ($379,323.00), or as much thereof as is necessary, from the general fund to the department of health, mental health division, for the period beginning with the effective date of this act and ending June 30, 2008. The funds under this subsection shall be used as follows:

(i)

Not more than two hundred fifty thousand six hundred forty dollars ($250,640.00) shall be one-time funds expended to allow the acquisition and remodeling of additional space within the Qwest building in Cheyenne and the purchase of necessary furniture and equipment to accommodate the needs of the mental health division;

(ii)

Not more than one hundred twenty-eight thousand six hundred eighty-three dollars ($128,683.00) shall be used for continuing operating costs.

(b)

There is appropriated eighty-nine thousand one hundred fourteen dollars ($89,114.00), or as much thereof as is necessary, from the general fund to the department of health, substance abuse division, for the period beginning with the effective date of this act and ending June 30, 2008. The appropriation under this subsection shall be one-time funding. The funds appropriated under this subsection shall only be used to pay the costs of remodeling, purchasing of office equipment and furniture and space rental. The funds under this subsection shall be used to allow the acquisition and remodeling of additional space within the Qwest building in
Cheyenne
to accommodate the needs of additional employees authorized for the substance abuse division under 2006 Wyoming Session Laws, Chapter 40.

Section 11
.

Substance abuse treatment residential services.

(a)

There is appropriated two million one hundred thirty-one thousand three hundred seventeen dollars ($2,131,317.00), or as much thereof as is necessary, from the general fund to the department of health, substance abuse division, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007 and ending June 30, 2008. The funds appropriated under this subsection shall only be used to increase the capacity of community substance abuse treatment centers to provide residential treatment. Funds appropriated under this section shall be distributed to regions designated by the division as follows:

(i)

To community substance abuse treatment centers in the central region, residential services shall be expanded to serve at any given time:

(A)

Seventeen (17) additional adult female clients;

(B)

Thirty-seven (37) additional adult male clients; and

(C)

Ten (10) additional clients who are minors.

(ii)

To community substance abuse treatment centers in the northeast region, residential services shall be expanded to serve at any given time:

(A)

Ten (10) additional adult female clients; and

(B)

Six (6) additional adult male clients.

(iii)

To community substance abuse treatment centers in the southwest region, residential services shall be expanded to serve twenty (20) additional adult female clients at any given time;

(iv)

To community substance abuse treatment centers in the northwest region, residential services shall be expanded to serve six (6) additional clients at any given time to include medical detoxification services for the clients served under this paragraph.

(b)

There is appropriated three hundred ninety-nine thousand one hundred sixty dollars ($399,160.00), or as much thereof as is necessary, from the general fund to the department of health, substance abuse division, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007 and ending June 30, 2008. The funds appropriated under this subsection shall only be used to establish and provide transitional residential services throughout the state at any given time for not more than:

(i)

Thirty-three (33) male clients with alcohol or substance abuse problems; and

(ii)

Thirty (30) female clients with alcohol or substance abuse problems.

(c)

There is appropriated one million two hundred fifty-nine thousand two hundred fifty dollars ($1,259,250.00), or as much thereof as is necessary, from the general fund to the department of health, substance abuse division, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007 and ending June 30, 2008. The funds appropriated under this subsection shall only be used to establish social detoxification services in each of the regions of the state designated by the division. Not more than seventy-six (76) clients statewide with alcohol or substance abuse problems shall be served at any given time by the funds appropriated under this subsection.

Section 12.

Substance abuse-Native American traditional wellness.

There is appropriated three hundred eighty-four thousand nine hundred twenty dollars ($384,920.00), or as much thereof as is necessary, from the general fund to the department of health, substance abuse division, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007 and ending June 30, 2008. The funds appropriated under this subsection shall be used to implement a traditional wellness program for Native American clients with alcohol or substance abuse problems who reside on the Wind River Reservation.
Any contract for any program funded under this section shall be awarded under a competitive bid process. Any program funded shall incorporate "best practices" as defined by W.S. 9
‑
2
‑
2702.

Section 13.

Substance abuse regional services enhancements.

(a)

There is appropriated one million two hundred twenty-seven thousand dollars ($1,227,000.00), or as much thereof as is necessary, from the general fund to the department of health, substance abuse division, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007 and ending June 30, 2008. The funds appropriated under this subsection shall be used by the division to enable community substance abuse treatment centers to provide and enhance quality of life services for clients of the centers, including:

(i)

Emergency subsistence;

(ii)

Prescription medication;

(iii)

Health and medical support transportation, including access to clinical services, medical, dental and optometric services and educational resources;

(iv)

Housing deposits, retention and safety enhancements;

(v)

Care, including respite care, and medical and other health care;

(vi)

Other services approved by the division and itemized by the community substance abuse provider on the appropriate reimbursement form; and

(vii)

Community methamphetamine and substance abuse initiative implementation funding.

Section 14.

Department of health client information sharing database appropriation.

(a)

Only if 2007 House Bill 0133, department of health client information sharing, is enacted into law, there is appropriated three hundred sixty-three thousand two hundred dollars ($363,200.00) in one-time funding, or as much thereof as necessary, from the general fund to the department of health as follows:

(i)

For the period beginning with the effective date of this act and ending June 30, 2007, there is appropriated forty thousand dollars ($40,000.00) to the department of health. The funds appropriated under this paragraph shall be used to enable the mental health division and the substance abuse division to continue developing the client information system database, including compilation and conversion of client data as necessary for fiscal years 2005 through 2007, to implement 2007 House Bill 0133;

(ii)

For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007 and ending June 30, 2008, there is appropriated one hundred sixty-one thousand six hundred dollars ($161,600.00) to the mental health division to finalize the client information system database, to compile and process client information data through fiscal year 2008 and to distribute funding to community mental health providers under contract with the division as provided in paragraph (iv) of this subsection;

(iii)

For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007 and ending June 30, 2008, there is appropriated one hundred sixty-one thousand six hundred dollars ($161,600.00) to the substance abuse division to finalize the client information system database, to compile and process client information data through fiscal year 2008 and to distribute funding to community substance abuse treatment providers under contract with the division as provided in paragraph (iv) of this subsection;

(iv)

Of the funds appropriated under paragraphs (ii) and (iii) of this subsection, not more than one hundred twenty thousand dollars ($120,000.00) shall be distributed to community mental health and substance abuse treatment providers under contract with the division of mental health or the division of substance abuse to conform client data and submit the client data for inclusion in the client information system developed by the department of health.

Section 15.

Mental health and substance abuse; Medicaid reimbursement rates.

(a)

There is appropriated one million four hundred thirty-two thousand four hundred forty dollars ($1,432,440.00) from the general fund and one million four hundred seventy-four thousand eight hundred eighty-eight dollars ($1,474,888.00) from federal funds to the department of health, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007 and ending June 30, 2008.

(b)

The funds appropriated under this section shall be used by the department of health to increase the Medicaid service code reimbursement rates paid under the Wyoming Medical Assistance and Services Act for mental health and substance abuse treatment services for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007 and ending June 30, 2008. For the specified fiscal year, the Medicaid service code reimbursement rates for mental health and substance abuse treatment services shall be paid at a rate of eighty-seven dollars ($87.00) per hour.

Section 16.

Select committee on mental health and substance abuse services.

Of the appropriation under 2006 Wyoming Session Laws, Chapter 40, section 14, all remaining funds shall carry forward from the effective date of this act through June 30, 2008 to enable the select committee on mental health and substance abuse services to continue its study of issues and to propose legislation for a more cost effective and accessible delivery system of services for persons in need of mental health or alcohol or substance abuse treatment.

Section 17.

By October 1, 2007, the department of health shall report to the select committee on the mental health needs of military service members serving or having served in
Iraq
and
Afghanistan
, and the families of those service members, which are not being met by programs offered by the veterans administration or other programs. The report shall include cost estimates for any programs or services that the department proposes to be administered by the state.

Section 18.

This act is effective immediately upon co
m
pletion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constit
u
tion.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the Senate.

Chief Clerk

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