Medical Assistance coverage of services provided in an institution for mental disease. (FE)

What it does

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

Currently, the Department of Health Services administers the Medical Assistance (MA) program, which is a joint federal and state program that provides health services to individuals who have limited financial resources. Generally, under the MA program, the state provides its share of the funding for benefits and the federal government then contributes its designated share of funding, also known as federal financial participation.

Under current law, DHS may, but is not required to, cover under the MA program the costs of services provided to MA beneficiaries in an institution for mental disease if federal financial participation is available and certain other requirements are met; under this bill, DHS must cover the costs of those services under the MA program if federal funding participation is available and certain other requirements are met. The bill also requires DHS, by January 1, 2025, to submit a request to the federal Department of Health and Human Services for any waiver or approval necessary to provide MA coverage, with federal funding participation, of short-term stays for acute care in an institution for mental disease.

Who's behind it

21 lawmakers are its authors⁠. 19 are Republicans and 2 are Democrats.

14 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.

What it would cost

State agencies filed a cost estimate. Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.

• Fiscal Estimate From DHS
• Fiscal Estimate From DHS (Updated)