CMHSP PRIORITY; VETERANS                                                                S.B. 1094 (S-1):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

Senate Bill 1094 (Substitute S-1 as reported)

Sponsor:  Senator Rebekah Warren

Committee:  Families, Seniors and Human Services

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Mental Health Code to require priority for the provision of mental health services to be given to a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Under the Code, services provided by a community mental health services program must be directed to individuals with serious mental illness, serious emotional disturbance, or developmental disability. Priority for these services must be given to individuals with the most severe forms of these illnesses or disabilities, and to those individuals in urgent or emergency situations. The bill would require that priority also be given to a U.S. Armed Forces veteran.

The bill would take effect on October 1, 2015.

MCL 330.1208                                                                  Legislative Analyst:  Jeff Mann

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill has the potential to increase costs for State and local government. By designating veterans of the United States armed forces as a priority population for community mental health services programs (CMHSPs), the bill would effectively increase the number of people whom CMHSPs are required to treat. Since CMHSPs receive funding from State and local sources, an increase in populations required to be covered without additional funding would lead to fewer financial resources available for other CMHSP services.

The current veteran population in Michigan is estimated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to be 658,469. Statistics by the National Council for Behavioral Health place the manifestation of mental illness at approximately 30%, or 197,540 veterans. It is likely that the most severely mentally ill veterans already fall into the priority population for CMHSPs, but this bill would increase coverage to veterans with mild to moderate mental illnesses. It is possible that some of the costs could be offset by Medicaid, as many veterans would be eligible. Additionally, the FY 2014-15 Department of Community Health budget included $9.3 million ongoing, $5.0 million one-time GF/GP funds, and Federal matching funds for the implementation of the Mental Health and Wellness Commission recommendations. As this bill directly would fulfill one of the Commission's recommendations, these funds could be available to cover the costs discussed above.

Date Completed:  12-8-14                                                 Fiscal Analyst:  Ellyn Ackerman

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.