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Senate OKs Mental-Health Systems Bill, But Lawmakers Flag County Cost Concerns
Summary
The Utah Senate passed first substitute Senate Bill 161 to require Medicaid-contracted plans to reimburse behavioral telemedicine at in-person rates and to prevent discipline for providers seeking treatment; senators raised concerns that counties could face roughly $267,000 in added costs per county absent fiscal adjustments.
The Utah State Senate on Feb. 22, 2021, advanced first substitute Senate Bill 161 (mental health systems amendments) in a roll-call vote that produced 25 yes, 0 no, and 4 absent. The measure requires the base budget to include certain appropriations to the Department of Health and Human Services for insurance plans that contract with Medicaid to provide behavioral health services, requires that health plans reimburse behavioral telemedicine at the contracted in-person rate, and forbids health plans from requiring a provider to use a particular technology method for delivering…
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