SENATE BILL 66

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2014

INTRODUCED BY

Gerald Ortiz y Pino

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

AN ACT

RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH; PROHIBITING CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR INFANT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT SERVICES PROVIDERS; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES DEPARTMENT FOR INFANT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT SERVICES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. A new section of the Children's Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] INFANT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT SERVICES--ORGANIZATION ENDORSEMENT OR MEMBERSHIP--PROHIBITION.--The department shall not require a provider of infant or early childhood mental health treatment services to hold an endorsement from or membership in any organization in order for that provider to be eligible for reimbursement for infant or early childhood mental health treatment services by the department."

     SECTION 2. APPROPRIATION.--

          A. Two million dollars ($2,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the children, youth and families department for expenditure in fiscal year 2015 to fund value-added services for recipients of infant or early childhood mental health treatment services. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2015 shall revert to the general fund.

          B. For the purposes of this section, "value-added service" means any service that a managed care organization that contracts with the interagency behavioral health purchasing collaborative as the statewide entity provides to a recipient and that:

                (1) is not included in a managed care medicaid benefit package; and

                (2) is not a medicaid-funded service, benefit or entitlement under the Public Assistance Act.

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