Committee on Health Services defers behavioral-health associate regulations after access concerns

The Committee on Health Services voted to defer two proposed administrative regulations that would rename and change qualifications for mental health associates to behavioral health associates.

The regulations — identified in committee discussion as 907 KAR 001:044 and 907 KAR 015:005 — were postponed after committee members and providers raised concerns that new coursework and qualification requirements could reduce access to care in rural areas. Chairwoman Mosher presided over the motion to defer; the motions were seconded and approved by voice vote.

Committee members said the Department for Medicaid Services filed the regulations to expand the existing mental health associate role into a behavioral health associate (BHA) provider type that Medicaid would allow in roughly 2,000 additional…