JFAC approves behavioral‑health funding adjustments, orders review of CANS assessment

Lawmakers on the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee approved a package of behavioral‑health supplemental appropriations and FY2026 enhancements tied to implementation of the Idaho Behavioral Health Plan (the state’s managed‑care arrangement for behavioral health services), while adopting language directing a review of the CANS (Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths) assessment and restrictions on certain program spending.

Analysts and legislators described a cluster of actions: - FY2025 supplemental appropriations: the committee approved one‑time federal and dedicated fund actions to allow providers and the Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) to expend previously appropriated grants whose periods expired during delays implementing the Idaho Behavioral Health Plan; the motion on the behavioral‑health contract implementation added $6,743,800 in federal funds to cover grants for the current year. It also approved a $2,663,500 one‑time general‑fund addition for civil‑commitment and community hospitalization expenditures. - State hospitals: the committee approved accounting shifts at State Hospital West and State Hospital South that reallocated federal, dedicated and general funds to reflect receipts from managed‑care activity and changes in federal program accounting. Several votes recorded net‑zero fund‑shift adjustments across fund types and also a general‑fund addition tied to community hospitalization. - Mental‑health program timing: the committee moved the Center of Excellence program from ongoing to one‑time funding while dropping nine FTPs in the motion; members said the change allows the committee and agencies to review the program and its role in the managed‑care transition. - Substance use treatment: a FY2026 fund shift moved certain personnel and trustee/benefit payment costs between dedicated and federal accounts (net zero), per the department’s accounting needs under the managed‑care arrangement.

Separately, committee members considered and adopted two behavioral‑health policy language items: - DEI and related restrictions: the committee approved language placing restrictions on appropriations related to diversity, equity and inclusion, critical race theory, transgender ideology and similar programs in the behavioral‑health context. (The language text appears in the committee packet; committee members discussed the policy implications during debate.) - CANS assessment review: the committee adopted language directing DHW to report to JFAC on alternatives to the CANS assessment and to evaluate the administrative process. Representative Tanner framed the request as an exploration of alternatives and concerns raised by parents and counselors about certain CANS questions (including SOGI — sexual orientation and gender identity — items); Senator Wintrow and others emphasized the instrument is used under prior settlement obligations and said changing questions could affect the assessment algorithm and service‑eligibility determinations. The language asks DHW to examine options and report back to the committee.

Why it matters: the votes realign how behavioral‑health dollars are recognized in FY2025 and FY2026 during the managed‑care transition and add committee oversight on program design (Center of Excellence review) and screening instruments (CANS). The committee’s DEI restrictions and the CANS review drew testimony from members who urged caution about unintended consequences for services versus those who sought reassurances for parents concerned about specific questions.

Votes and outcomes: multiple roll calls approved the fiscal adjustments and the CANS review language; the Center of Excellence funding was shifted to one‑time and the related FTP reductions were adopted to allow further review. The behavioral‑health contract implementation supplemental ($6,743,800) and the psychiatric hospitalization civil‑commitment supplemental ($2,663,500) passed on joint roll calls.