The FY 2012 - 2013 budget was finalized in June, 2011.  Below is a summary of the funding levels for mental health and alcohol and drug addiction services and some key policy issues included in the budget.

We want to thank advocates from around the state for your phone calls and emails asking for increased funding for behavioral health services and improved policies in the State Budget.  Your hard work improved this budget.

Many of the policies included in the State Budget will advance the integration of behavioral and physical health care and improve service delivery of behavioral health services.  However, the MHAC is concerned that inadequate funding for behavioral health services will hamper these efforts.

While we recognize the increases in funding over the Executive Budget, we must also recognize that funding for mental health Medicaid and non-Medicaid services has been cut.  And we know that alcohol and drug addiction services have been historically under-funded and these increases do not scratch the surface of need for alcohol and drug addiction services in our communities.

Funding Levels: 

Some Key Policy Changes:

• Integration of behavioral and physical health care are focused on by the Office of Health Transformation 
• Medicaid Elevation
• During FY 12, ODMH and ODADAS retain the state portion of Medicaid match. However, protections were built in to ensure GRF from ODMH and ODADAS 501 line items are used for match rather than other GRF line items and local levy dollars.
• During FY 13, state portion of mental health and alcohol and drug addiction Medicaid moves to ODJFS 525 line item.
• Medicaid Cost Containment
• Tiered Rates for community psychiatric supportive treatment (CPST)
• 90 minutes for each Individual and Group CPST billed at 100% per day per client
• Remaining minutes of CPST billed at 50%  
• Limited use of certain V-codes to crisis intervention and diagnostic assessment
• Clarify reimbursement policy on which services may be reimbursed by the community mental health benefit for nursing home residents
• Only mental health services associated with admission and discharge may be reimbursed separately through the community mental health benefit
• Other services may be provided but providers must contract with nursing homes for the provision of those services. 
• Defined Benefit Package

• Due to Early, Periodic, Screening Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT)Ohiowill implement a "soft" prior authorization for children.  This "soft" prior authorization will bypass the service limits for children's claims.
• Adults will be subject to a prior authorization process for CPST and partial hospitalization beyond the limits.   
• Kids Benefit Package Amendment
• Establishes presumptive determination that children (under 21 years of age) in child welfare and juvenile justice systems are prior authorized to access Medicaid services beyond the service limits
• Nursing Home Amendment
• Adds behavioral and mental health services to nursing facilities' direct care costs
• Psychiatric Prior Authorization Exemption
• Certain psychiatrists are able to prescribe certain mental health medications for Medicaid recipients without prior authorization
• Deemed Status
• Requires state certification to be granted to an alcohol and drug addiction program or a community mental health agency if the applicant for certification holds national accreditation from the Joint Commission, the Council on Accreditation and Rehabilitation Facilities, or the Council on Accreditation
• Authorizes or requires ODADAS and ODMH directors to perform certain actions related to validating accreditation
• Specifies that programs and agencies are not subject to further evaluation for purposes of the certification, but permits visits and evaluation for "cause"