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House approves review of subacute mental‑health services and allows limited beds at Independence MHI
Summary
The House concurred in a Senate amendment to House File 2543, removing private-insurance mandates, tightening prior‑authorization timelines, and directing the Department of Health and Human Services to review capacity to establish subacute mental‑health services at Independence with a report due Jan. 4, 2027.
Representative Webster explained that the Senate amendment to House File 2543 strikes an insurance requirement from the House bill, tightens prior-authorization timelines for Medicaid, and directs the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to review the state's capacity to establish subacute mental-health services and additional inpatient services at Independence beginning July 2027.
The amendment requires the DHHS review to examine costs, staffing, infrastructure, and partnership potential with private operators and to submit a report to the chairs of the HHS and appropriations committees in each chamber by "01/04/2027." Webster also said DHHS may provide subacute beds at Independence MHI "if it can be done within the appropriation." Representative Wojciech Cazell said the amended bill is a compromise and recommended a yes vote.
The House concurred in the amendment and placed House File 2543 on final passage. The recorded vote showed 90 yeas, 0 nays, and 10 absent; the clerk declared the bill passed.
