JFAC moves behavioral-health package: supplemental funding, hospital adjustments and CANS review language approved

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved a multipart behavioral-health package that includes supplemental appropriations for Idaho Behavioral Health Plan implementation, civil-commitment expenditures, fund shifts for state hospitals and language directing the Department of Health and Welfare to evaluate the child-and-adolescent needs-and-strengths (CANS) assessment and potential alternatives.

Analysts reminded the committee that the Idaho Behavioral Health Plan (IBHP) went live in July and that timing and accounting differences required reappropriations and supplemental fund adjustments for federal, dedicated and general funds. The committee also revisited previously approved items after parts of the appropriation bills failed in the House and were returned to JFAC.

Why it matters: the actions fund near-term behavioral-health program needs and place several programs under one-time authority for further review. The committee’s language also requires reporting and oversight as the statewide managed-care implementation continues.

Key approvals and changes

- Mental health services supplemental: the committee approved a one-time federal appropriation of $6,743,800 for Idaho Behavioral Health Plan contract implementation (FY 2025 supplemental). The motion passed on roll call and will be part of the package forwarded by JFAC.

- Psychiatric hospitalization civil-commitment appropriation: the committee approved a one-time general-fund addition of $2,663,500 for civil-commitment expenditures and community hospitalization (FY 2025 supplemental).

- State Hospital West and State Hospital South accounting shifts: approved transfers shifted federal funds into dedicated receipt authority for MCO accounting, and the committee approved ongoing and one-time adjustments as part of FY 2025 supplementals and FY 2026 program maintenance.

- Center of Excellence: the committee moved the Center of Excellence program from ongoing to one-time funding and removed 51 FTPs in the adjustment; members said the change preserves the program for review rather than terminating it outright.

- CANS assessment language: the committee approved committee language directing the Department of Health and Welfare to explore alternatives to aspects of the CANS assessment and report back to JFAC; members asked for stakeholder involvement and cautioned against making changes that would break the assessment’s algorithm.

What members said

- Representative Tanner, who spoke in favor of exploring alternatives to the CANS assessment, said some counselors and parents raised concerns about questions tied to sexual orientation/gender identity embedded in the instrument and wanted the department to examine alternatives.

- Senator Wintrow urged care and inclusion of parents and families in any evaluation; she explained that the CANS instrument is used to determine services and cautioned that opt-outs or question removal could affect the tool’s validity.

- Committee analysts and sponsors said the Center of Excellence change to one-time funding is intended to allow the committee time to review the program and its functions rather than remove services immediately.

Next steps

The approved supplementals and FY 2026 adjustments will be incorporated in the behavioral-health omnibus appropriation forwarded by JFAC. The department will prepare the CANS alternatives report and other required reporting; committee language included notices and timelines tied to implementation and oversight.