Christine Jordan Sexton
There will be a push in 2015 to increase the amount of money Florida spends on community-based mental health and substance abuse services.
Specifically, the Florida Council for Community Mental Health will ask members of the Legislature to increase their reimbursement rates by $44.5 million in state dollars. Because that money is eligible for matching federal dollars, the total increase for providers — if approved by the Legislature this session – equals $110 million.
The group – representing 53 community-based providers across the state — estimates that Medicaid currently reimburses providers about 60 percent of the costs of providing the care, said FCCMH Chief Executive Officer, Mike Hansen. It would be the first substantial increase the providers have seen in two decades, said Hansen.
Economists predict that Florida could have as much as a $1 billion surplus in 2015-16, due primarily to continued growth in the economy. The surplus is what will be available even after meeting current enrollment needs for schools and health care programs and setting aside $1 billion or reserves.
While the additional money would go a long ways to shore up an underfunded system, providers say, it pales in comparison to what may actually be needed. A Department of Children and Families survey shows community based providers reported underfunding of $125.8 million — with most of the losses from treating adults. Additionally, the DCF survey shows that providers estimate they need another $512.2 million if the state was to fully fund community-based mental health and substance abuse services for adults and children.
In all, community-based providers need a total of $638 million, according to the DCF survey.
In addition to seeking rate increases, the FCCMH will ask the Legislature to make permanent $9 million in increases it made last year with non-recurring money. Twenty-eight programs in 13 counties benefitted from the extra dollars last year, Hansen said. The Department of Children and Families included the same request in its legislative budget request for the upcoming year.
There also will be a push to reduce the criminalization of the mentally ill. Annually, 125,000 people with mental illnesses are booked in Florida jails. Among other things, the council supports increasing funding for community re-entry programs for mentally ill individuals released from jail.
