Montana lawmakers consider bill to invest $300M in behavioral health system

HELENA — Montana lawmakers and state company leaders stated Wednesday that they’ve a novel alternative this yr to spend money on Montana’s behavioral well being system – and it’s time to take it.

As a part of his state finances proposal final yr, Gov. Greg Gianforte referred to as for guiding $300 million in state funding to behavioral well being. Now, lawmakers have launched Home Invoice 872, which might create a framework for the way that cash could be distributed.

“We’re right here as a result of we’re lucky to have a big surplus and we will resolve issues,” stated Rep. Bob Keenan, R-Bigfork, who’s sponsoring HB 872. “I have a look at this invoice as a possibility to do nice issues.”

The Home Appropriations Committee held an preliminary listening to on the invoice Wednesday morning.

HB 872’s title establishes its aim as supporting a “behavioral well being system for future generations.” It might put aside $225 million in a brand new state account that will be used to fund state and community-based packages for folks with behavioral well being wants or developmental disabilities. One other $75 million would go into the state’s long-range constructing fund for future capital initiatives within the behavioral well being system.

The cash within the new state fund may very well be used for finding out and planning a complete behavioral well being system, planning and operation of state care services, buying or renovating property to determine state services, and investing in community-based suppliers to stabilize service supply, assist the workforce and improve service capability.

“We’ve to have a partnership of private and non-private,” stated Keenan. “That’s how the system will work.”

HB 872 would set up a fee to make suggestions on how the cash needs to be used. It might embrace 4 lawmakers, the director of the Montana Division of Public Well being and Human Companies and two different members appointed by the governor.

“To be on this committee goes to take quite a lot of time and quite a lot of work,” Keenan stated. “I believe it is going to be price it. I believe that Montana is positioned to essentially make some super steps ahead.”

Whereas the fee would suggest actions, Gianforte would have the ultimate choice on whether or not to undertake these suggestions.

Whereas HB 872 units apart $300 million, it solely gives the authority to spend $70 million of that over the following two years. The 2025 Legislature could have an opportunity to weigh in on how the remainder of the cash needs to be used.

Keenan and DPHHS director Charlie Brereton informed lawmakers the plan is “broad open” at this level, and they’re going to fastidiously take into account all choices. Nevertheless, they stated there is no such thing as a plan to shut or privatize the Montana State Hospital at Heat Springs.

“We proceed to make historic investments within the current state-run well being care services, however we additionally wish to be daring,” Brereton stated. “We wish to assume larger and broader on this area alongside community-based suppliers.”

Throughout Wednesday’s listening to, some lawmakers questioned why DPHHS didn’t have extra particulars about how the cash may very well be used – particularly about any potential new services.

“Did I hear that you just guys do not know what you are constructing?” requested Rep. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Field Elder.

“May the division have rushed a plan in a proposal ahead and offered it to you all? We completely might have,” Brereton stated in response. “However we have elected to hit pause, to do that in a considerate, data-informed, rational method, alongside the legislature and suppliers and stakeholders.”

Some advocates additionally opposed the type of the fee, saying individuals who’ve handled behavioral well being challenges and gone by means of the present system needs to be assured a voice.

“Just be sure you’re together with the people who use the system as you design the system – not simply saying, ‘Hey, we’ll maintain a listening session,’ however make sure that we have now that seat on the desk, and we’re a part of the decision-making course of,” stated Joel Peden, representing impartial dwelling facilities and Incapacity Rights Montana.

The Home Appropriations Committee took no rapid motion on the invoice.