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Panel partially funds BISFIG behavioral health initiatives; electronic bed registry and 988 tech left for later
Summary
The subcommittee advanced multiple Behavioral Health System for Future Generations (BISFIG) recommendations but split or deferred several major items, including an electronic bed registry and text/chat upgrades for 988; members funded other recommendations such as care transition teams, workforce incentives and community clinic supports.
Lawmakers on the House Appropriations Subcommittee (Section B) considered multiple recommendations from the Behavioral Health System for Future Generations commission (often referred to in testimony as BISFIG or the 872 package). The subcommittee approved many BISFIG items but split or deferred others because of cost, revenue source timing and overlapping services.
What the subcommittee did and did not fund - The chair and staff said the committee “approved the majority” of BISFIG recommendations and specifically listed a number of recommendation numbers that the subcommittee moved, including recommendation numbers 3 (tiered payments / higher‑acuity clinic support), 8 (care transition teams), 17 (rates for in‑state youth residential services), 18 (school‑based services), 19 (workforce incentives) and 22 (certified community behavioral health clinics, CCBHCs). Chair Gillette said several of those measures were adopted and incorporated into the section’s appropriations. - The subcommittee did not fully fund BISFIG recommendation 9 as written. That recommendation included (a) an electronic statewide bed registry, (b) enhancements to 988 (text/chat capability and interoperability with 911) and (c) marketing. The committee elected to fund 988 marketing but declined (in whole or in part) to move the electronic bed registry and the 988 technology upgrades at this time; the chair and the director described the bed registry as a multi‑million dollar IT effort.
Why some items were deferred: committee members and staff said many BISFIG items were proposed as ongoing obligations paid from a state special revenue account created in 2023; that account contains one‑time funds and does not have a permanent revenue stream. Subcommittee members said they were mindful of ongoing obligations that could later require general fund support if state special revenues are not replenished.
Department perspective: DPHHS told the panel it supports reopening evaluation and diagnostic (E&D) clinics and expanding targeted case management but acknowledged overlap with other service models (for example, school child‑find activities and the newly proposed CCBHC structure), and the department and subcommittee sought ways to avoid duplication while preserving services.
Ending: Members asked the department for more specificity about how BISFIG recommendations will be implemented, whether parts can become Medicaid‑eligible over time, and the timetable and funding strategy for any ongoing obligations. The subcommittee indicated it will continue to track which BISFIG elements can be transitioned to sustainable funding streams.
