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Committee hears requests to sustain community mental‑health clinics, 988 funding and youth crisis centers
Summary
Analysts and Department of Health and Welfare officials told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee that recent appropriations and ongoing funding for community behavioral health, youth crisis centers and 988 startup require continued attention as the department seeks flexibility to avoid service suspensions.
Alex Williamson, budget and policy analyst, summarized the Division of Mental Health Services budget and told the committee the division now has 278.23 full‑time positions after recent committee actions and that several recent appropriations have been made ongoing for community behavioral health clinics.
Williamson noted that in prior years the Legislature provided $6,000,000 ongoing for community behavioral health clinics and one‑time sums including $3,000,000 for community mental health and $4,400,000 to help stand up the 988 crisis line. For fiscal year 2024 the division’s expenditures were roughly 52.8% personnel, 14.4% operating and 32.8% trustee and benefit payments.
The agency and governor also requested $720,000 ongoing for youth crisis centers and identified a $3,000,000 one‑time appropriation that had been previously granted for community mental health. Williamson said some requested fund transfers reflect federal‑to‑general fund shifts tied to accreditation timing and Medicaid billing.
Director Adams said the budgets the committee reviewed “fill the gaps” left by Medicaid (services Medicaid does not cover and services for non‑Medicaid patients). Adams said the department had to temporarily suspend some children’s mental‑health services earlier in the year to remain within the budget and argued that transfer flexibility would help avoid similar interruptions. “We had to temporarily suspend children's mental health services,” Adams said, adding that the department had two options — ask for a supplemental or reduce services to live within budget.
Senator Wintrow asked what’s gone well and what challenges stakeholders raised; Adams said the principal challenge has been that projected IBHP costs are much higher than estimated and that this will be addressed in Medicaid budget hearings. Senator Tanner and Representative Tanner questioned vendor choices and whether contractors such as Magellan or Janus can meet 988 service expectations; Adams said the department is “agnostic” about the subcontractor and that Magellan contracts with entities to provide services and the department’s contract is with Magellan.
Why it matters: community behavioral health clinics, youth crisis centers and the 988 crisis line are central elements of the state’s strategy to expand crisis and outpatient behavioral health access. Committee members must consider whether to approve ongoing funds and whether to grant transfer flexibility that the department says will prevent service interruptions.
Ending: The committee asked for follow‑up detail on vendor arrangements and for Medicaid staff to provide more budget context during the Medicaid hearing.
