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Bell County authorizes MOU with Central County Services to seek medication reimbursement for individuals returned from state hospitals
Summary
The court authorized a memorandum of understanding with Central County Services to pursue reimbursement (via the Takumi program) for up to a 90-day supply of medications for people returned from state hospitals after competency restoration (46B commitments); Central County Services said LMHA funding availability may be up to $500,000 and staff will follow up on billing procedures.
Bell County Commissioners on July 22 authorized the county judge to enter a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Central County Services to seek reimbursement for medication costs for individuals returned from state hospitals after competency restoration (46B commitments).
Paula McIntosh of Central County Services told the court that the Takumi program includes a rider that allows the Local Mental Health Authority (LMHA) to reimburse a jail or its health services vendor for a 90-day supply of medication for those returned from a state hospital: "Through our Takumi program, we are able to provide a 90 day, supply medication reimbursement for medication," McIntosh said. She added that the LMHA funding pool "I believe it's 500,000 that it's available," noting the agency has not fully drawn against that funding in the past.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about who would submit reimbursement requests (the jail or the health services vendor commonly called Turnkey), how documentation would be handled, and what qualifies for reimbursement. McIntosh said Central County Services needs preapproved documentation showing medication cost and that the requesting party can be either the vendor or the jail. County staff committed to pull past medication bills and confirm which charges qualify under the program.
What the MOU covers
- Reimbursement for up to a 90-day medication supply for individuals returned from state hospitals after competency restoration (46B commitments). - Central County Services will work with local jails to establish MOUs and submit required documentation to Takumi for reimbursement. - Funding availability discussed in the hearing was described as up to $500,000 available to LMHA partners, but the county’s expected reimbursement and net savings were not specified.
Next steps
County staff will follow up with Turnkey and Central County Services to identify who will submit claims, pull historical medication bills for an estimate of potential savings, and confirm eligibility and documentation requirements before the MOU is fully operational.
