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Behavioral health funding shifts: crisis call center RFP and reductions in designated funds
Summary
The Department of Health told the House Finance subcommittee it will issue an RFP for a new crisis call center as ARPA and temporary funds end, and reported a $3.7 million reduction in designated general fund projections affecting behavioral health programs.
The House Finance Department of Health subcommittee reviewed behavioral health budget adjustments that include contingency plans for a crisis call center contract and reductions tied to projected revenues.
Assistant Commissioner Pam Halloran described a plan to issue a request for proposals for a crisis call center once an expiring contract and ARPA funding end: Halloran said the center has used terminating funds and that the state needs a new funding source; she described the center’s role as helping connect callers to suicide and crisis resources, referencing 988 and a 1‑877 help line.
Halloran told the subcommittee the behavioral health division is facing an estimated $3,700,000 reduction in designated general fund (DGF) revenue related to Department of Revenue projections. The department tied that reduction to several designated sources, including marijuana education and treatment funds, recidivism reduction funds, alcohol and drug treatment and prevention funds, and tobacco education and cessation funds; Halloran recommended the committee contact the Department of Revenue for more detail on the revenue drivers.
The division also requested increased federal authority to manage a large set of federal awards; Halloran said a $5,000,000 federal authority increment would allow staff to operate across about 20 federal awards without having to hold grants back for authority reasons.
The subcommittee did not approve or reject any request at the hearing; members asked for followup detail from the Department of Revenue on projected designated fund changes.
