2024 -- S 3167

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LC006280

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE SECRETARY OF THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO DEVELOP A PLAN FOR ESTABLISHING A

SINGLE UNIFIED SYSTEM OF INTEGRATED BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH

CARE SERVICES FOR ACROSS THE LIFE-CYCLE

     

     Introduced By: Senator Joshua Miller

     Date Introduced: June 13, 2024

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

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     WHEREAS, It is in the interest of all Rhode Islanders for the State to maintain a system

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of publicly funded behavioral and mental health care that has the capacity to provide equitable

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access to high quality services throughout the life-cycle; and

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     WHEREAS, The State currently operates two somewhat distinct systems of publicly

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funded behavioral and mental health care -- one for children and their families and another for

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adults, 21 and older, in need of programs and services; and

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     WHEREAS, Although there are areas where the two systems intersect, differences in the

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ways they are administered and operate often make the pathway to services and transitions

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between them difficult for Rhode Islanders to navigate and understand; and

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     WHEREAS, Maintaining the two systems also impedes the State’s ability to fully

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leverage limited resources, expand best practices, and develop and sustain provider networks,

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programs, services, and supports that foster community integration without regard to age, family

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structure or circumstance; and

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     WHEREAS, A recent RI Senate Report on publicly funded health and human services in

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Rhode Island recommended establishing a unified system of State behavioral and mental health

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services under the Executive Office of Health and Human Services Secretariat by consolidating

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existing services and programs administered by the RI Department of Children, Youth and

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Families (DCYF) and the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Development Disabilities and

 

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Hospitals (BHDDH); and

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     WHEREAS, The Senate Report recommended the unified system of care be located in a

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redesigned BHDDH, as it currently serves as the State mental health authority, under the EOHHS

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umbrella pending the transition of the administration and operations of the state-operated

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hospitals currently under the department’s jurisdiction into a new agency dedicated solely to the

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management of state public health facilities; and

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     WHEREAS, The realignment of the State-operated hospitals is not expected to be

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completed until July 2025, the DCYF is still in the process of obtaining accreditation and

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implementing the Family First Prevention Services Act, and the network of Rhode Island the

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Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, overseen by EOHHS, is just launching, it is

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essential that a plan be developed for establishing the unified system that considers these and

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other related factors and their impact on the agencies affected, funding sources, provider

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networks, and, most important, the people and communities we serve; and

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     WHEREAS, The development of such a plan must take into account federal actions

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directing the State to address issues and concerns related to access and utilization across the two

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existing systems and ensure they are appropriately mediated; and

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     WHEREAS, The plan must also be aligned with other State health planning efforts and

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systematically and intentionally include strategies for improving equitable access to high quality

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behavioral and mental health care and substance use treatment across the life-cycle based on:

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trends in the need for services, providers, programs and facilities, the scope of resources

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required to meet that need today and over time, and, on this basis, the priorities and the action

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steps for achieving the goal of implementing a unified system of care; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby respectfully requests

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the Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to initiate the planning

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process to establish a unified system of care for publicly funded behavioral and mental health

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care and substance use treatment by no later than 7/1/2026. The system of care shall be

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administered by (BHDDH) within the Executive Department of the State to serve as the State

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agency responsible for overseeing and administering the organization, finance, management and

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delivery of programs and services across the life-cycle. The plan shall facilitate and effectuate the

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timely and seamless transfer of budget and personnel from these facilities current home agencies.

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The Secretary may request technical assistance from expert vendors and from the departments

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and facilities involved to assist in the planning process; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby further requests that the Secretary shall be

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authorized to:

 

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     • Prepare and execute an umbrella memorandum of understanding (“MOU”) specifying

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the conditions for providing to the EOHHS any information in the possession of the home

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agencies of the facilities that is protected as confidential under applicable federal or state laws or

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regulations that may be necessary for the Executive Office to operate in accordance with this

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Resolution; and

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     • The Departments under the EOHHS umbrella and, such other departments and agencies

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of the State as may be appropriate from time to time, shall assist and cooperate with the EOHHS

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and shall allocate or provide resources, including staff, as appropriate at the request of the

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Secretary in furtherance of this Resolution; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary shall provide regular and timely reports to the Senate

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and Governor and that a report presenting the plan for unifying the system of care including any

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finding and recommendations of the planning process and an implementation timeline shall be

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presented to the Senate and Governor by no later than 4/1/25. The report shall outline each

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milestone that must be achieved for a successful transition of responsibilities, financing and

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personnel and any associated costs; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Secretary of the Executive Office of Health

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and Human Services.

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LC006280

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