The Budget Posted This Morning!

September 02, 2023

So we thought that we would see the budget either Sunday or Monday, but we had a Saturday morning surprise!   There is not a lot to talk about, but HB6001 does contain a couple of bright spots:

  • An additional 70 CL Waiver slots and 430 FIS Waiver slots to be available 1 January, 2024
  • DMAS is to include all EPSDT Therapeutic Group Homes in the 12.5% rate increase for crisis and related services effective 1 January, 2024
  • DMAS is to increase the rates for Early Intervention Services (excluding Case Management) by 12.5% for children under the age of three effective 1 January, 2024
  • DMAS shall increase rates by 10% effective 1 January, 2024 for
    • Intensive In-Home
    • Mental Health Skill Building
    • Psychosocial Rehab
    • Therapeutic Day Treatment
    • Outpatient Psychotherapy, and
    • Peer Recovery Support Services – Mental Health
  • DMAS shall also increase rates by 10% effective 1 January, 2024 for
    • Comprehensive Crisis Services including
      • 23 Hour Crisis Stabilization
      • Community Stabilization
      • Crisis Intervention
      • Mobile Crisis Response
      • Residential Crisis Stabilization
    • Assertive Community Treatment
    • Mental Health – Intensive Outpatient
    • Mental Health – Partial Hospitalization
    • Family Functional Therapy, and
    • Multisystemic Therapy
  • DMAS shall also increase per diem rates for partial hospitalization to $500 and mental health intensive outpatient to $250 effective 1 January, 2024, and last
  • DMAS shall increase rates for personal care, companion and respite by 5% effective 1 January.


There is an additional $58M [GF] available “in the second year” in the DBHDS budget to expand and modernize the comprehensive crisis services system, including, but not limited to, investment in additional crisis receiving centers, crisis stabilization units, and enhancements to existing sites. Any remaining appropriation at year end shall be carried forward to the subsequent fiscal year for this purpose.  


And $4M [GF],  for supervised residential care for 100 individuals (the department shall give priority to projects that prioritize individuals on the state’s extraordinary barriers list, projects may include public-private partnerships, to include contracts with private entities.)  


And $10M  for the one-time costs of establishing additional mobile crisis services in underserved areas.


In addition to some small, targeted appropriations, there is also a an appropriation to increase compensation for CSB staff and increase the funding for the STEP-VA services which are required components of the CSB service system — both items we supported during the Session to help minimize the disruption caused by workforce issues and high turnover in the CSB system.
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