Citizen Portal
Sign In

Behavioral Health System for Future Generations: commission recommendations and $100M request

2104056 · January 10, 2025
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

DPHHS and LFD discussed the commission report for House Bill 872, the near‑term initiatives now underway and a governor’s proposal to invest roughly $100 million in phase‑1 reforms during the 2027 biennium.

Department leaders told the subcommittee that the Behavioral Health System for Future Generations commission completed a final report with recommendations and near‑term initiatives and that the governor’s executive budget carries forward funding to begin implementing foundational reforms.

DPHHS Director Charlie Brereton summarized the commission’s work, saying the final report presented 22 reform recommendations and 11 near‑term initiatives; “10 of these initial or foundational recommendations are included in our 2027 biennium budget request,” he told members. The department and the governor asked for funding to continue phase‑1 work in the next biennium; LFD quantified the executive request at roughly $99–100 million across state special revenue and federal matching funds.

Why it matters: the commission — a mix of legislative and executive appointees — traveled statewide, developed recommendations to expand community‑based behavioral health capacity, and identified near‑term stabilizing actions now being implemented. DPHHS said the near‑term initiatives have started enrolling clients and that implementation will require coordination across Medicaid and other agency programs.

LFD staff told the committee that several of the commission’s recommendations create Medicaid‑eligible services, which will attract federal matching funds as services expand. Committee members were told they will have multiple opportunities to examine the commission’s final report, decision packages and implementation timelines during upcoming behavioral health division hearings and work sessions.

Ending: The subcommittee flagged the item for detailed review during the scheduled Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Division hearing and for follow‑up on fiscal notes and implementation timelines.