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State officials cite legal challenges and size of contract for delay in Idaho Behavioral Health Plan rollout; department seeks transfer exemptions to cover gaps
Summary
Department of Health and Welfare officials told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee that delays in awarding and standing up the Idaho Behavioral Health Plan contract were driven by the contract’s size and legal challenges, and they requested transfer-exemption authority and a federal-cost supplemental to access grants tied to the plan.
Chairing the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee hearing, analysts and the Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) described remaining work to operationalize the Idaho Behavioral Health Plan (IBHP) and asked for transfer-exemption authority to allow department-wide fund moves to cover shortfalls.
Alex Williamson, budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, told the committee the agency is requesting a fiscal 2025 supplemental of about $6.7 million in federal funds to support the first year of the IBHP and a 2026 ongoing federal operating augmentation of $261,400 to support administration of federal grants. She said the state received federal grants tied to the IBHP after the program’s planned 2022 start was delayed; because the appropriation originally was timed to 2022, DHW needs new authority to access the grant dollars now available.
Director Alex Adams of the Department of Health and Welfare told the committee the IBHP procurement and start-up “precede[d] me,” and…
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