SB 913

This bill establishes a Department of Health Services certification process for

psychiatric residential treatment facilities. The bill defines a psychiatric residential

treatment facility as a non-hospital facility that provides inpatient comprehensive

mental health treatment services to individuals under the age of 21 who, due to

mental illness, substance use, or severe emotional disturbance, need treatment that

can most effectively be provided in a residential treatment facility. Psychiatric

residential treatment facilities must be certified by DHS to operate. The bill requires

DHS to include a request for $500,000 of annual funding for the purpose of

implementing the regulations described in the bill in its 2025-27 budget request.

The bill also provides that services through a psychiatric residential treatment

facility are reimbursable under the Medical Assistance program. The bill requires

DHS to submit to the federal government any request for federal approval necessary

to provide the reimbursement for services by a psychiatric residential treatment

facility under the Medical Assistance program. The Medical Assistance program is

a joint federal and state program administered by DHS that provides health care

services to individuals with limited financial resources.