Mental health: community mental health services.

Existing law, the Bronzan-McCorquodale Act, contains provisions governing the operation and financing of community mental health services for the mentally disordered in every county through locally administered and locally controlled community mental health programs. Under existing law, the State Department of Mental Health is allowed to advance, in equal monthly increments, up to 95% of the annual funds due to community mental health programs. This bill would remove the restriction to 12 monthly installments and a maximum of 95% for advances. Existing law provides for administration of the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment Program (EPSDT) by the State Department of Mental Health. Existing law separately establishes the Medi-Cal program, administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which basic health care services, including mental health services are provided to qualified low-income persons. The Medi-Cal program is partially governed and funded under federal Medicaid provisions. Under existing law, the State Department of Mental Health is required to implement managed mental health care for Medi-Cal recipients through fee-for-service or capitated contracts with counties, counties acting jointly, qualified individuals or organizations, or nongovernmental entities. Existing law requires the department to allocate the contracted amount to the mental health plan (MHP) at the beginning of the contract period. This bill would require the State Department of Mental Health to allocate and distribute annually the full appropriated amount to the MHP for the managed mental health program, exclusive of the EPSDT component. Existing law requires MHPs to have sufficient matching funds on deposit with the department as matching funds necessary for federal financial participation, as specified. This bill would eliminate this requirement. Existing law, the Mental Health Services Act, an initiative measure enacted by the voters as Proposition 63 at the November 2, 2004, statewide general election, establishes the Mental Health Services Fund (MHSF) to fund various county mental health programs. The act may be amended by the Legislature only by a 23 vote of both houses and only so long as the amendment is consistent with and furthers the intent of the act. The Legislature may clarify procedures and terms of the act by majority vote. Under existing law, funding for the Mental Health Services Act is required to be used to expand mental health services, but may be loaned to the General Fund, as provided. This bill would, instead, subject to the availability of funding in the MHSF, require the State Department of Mental Health to distribute in a single lump sum the total approved funding, as defined, to the counties for the provision of programs and other activities, as specified.