Current through Pa Acts 2024-53, 2024-56 through 2024-92
Section 163-C - Behavioral Health Commission for Adult Mental Health.(a) Commission.--The Behavioral Health Commission for Adult Mental Health is established in the Department of Human Services.(b)Composition.--The commission shall consist of the following members: (1) The Secretary of Human Services or a designee.(2) The Insurance Commissioner or a designee.(3) The Secretary of Drug and Alcohol Programs or a designee.(4) The Secretary of Health or a designee.(5) A representative of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.(6) An individual appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate.(7) An individual appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.(8) An individual appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.(9) An individual appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.(10) The following members appointed by the Governor: (i) Two active members of the Mental Health Planning Council.(ii) Two current or former behavioral health consumers or family members with lived experience of navigating diagnosis, treatment and recovery.(iii) An individual from a list of recommendations compiled by the Pennsylvania Association of County Administrators of Mental Health and Developmental Services with experience in county provision of mental health services to the uninsured and underinsured.(iv) Two representatives of behavioral health managed care organizations, one of whom must provide services in a rural county and one of whom must provide services in an urban county.(v) An individual from a list of recommendations compiled by the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania.(vi) An individual member of local law enforcement who is certified in crisis intervention teams and an active member of a mental health crisis intervention team with experience working in crisis response from a list of recommendations compiled by the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association.(vii) A psychologist who specializes in mental, social and emotional development from a list of recommendations compiled by the Pennsylvania Psychological Association.(viii) A licensed clinical social worker from a list of recommendations compiled by the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.(ix) An individual who is a subject matter expert in evidenced-based trauma-informed treatment modalities and trauma-informed approaches.(x) An individual who specializes in culturally competent behavioral health care.(xi) A recognized subject matter expert in the treatment of co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders from a list of recommendations compiled by the Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association with experience in behavioral health matters.(xii) A recognized subject matter expert in behavioral health from a list of recommendations compiled by the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers.(c)Chairperson.--The chairperson of the commission shall be selected by the Governor from among the members of the commission.(d) Vice chairperson.--A vice chairperson shall be designated by the chairperson of the commission from among the members of the commission to preside at meetings in the absence of the chairperson.(f) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum and a quorum shall be required for all actions.(g) Actions.--A vote of the majority of the members of the commission present shall be sufficient for all actions taken by the commission. Members may participate in a meeting by means of conference telephone or other electronic technology by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Participation in a meeting pursuant to this subsection shall constitute presence at the meeting.(h) Meetings.--The following shall apply: (1) The commission shall hold its first meeting no later than 60 days from the effective date of this subsection.(2) The commission shall convene no less than two meetings with county mental health administrations to review the provision of behavioral health care and identify recommendations for improvements in coordination of care. The commission shall hold at least one meeting with representatives from a rural county mental health administration and related entities and at least one meeting with representatives from a mental health administration from either an urban or suburban county and related entities.(3) As used in this subsection, "related entities" includes, but is not limited to, county commissioners, managed care organizations, behavioral health managed care organizations, single county authorities, hospitals, law enforcement, district attorneys, county child welfare agencies and county jails.(i) Cooperation.--The Department of Human Services shall cooperate with the commission to assist the commission in carrying out its duties.(j) Report.--The commission shall issue a report on its recommendations for the allocation of funding for the following: (1) Delivery of services by telemedicine.(2) Behavioral health rates, network adequacy and mental health payment parity.(3) Workforce development and retention.(4) Expansion of certified peer support specialist services and peer-run services.(5) The development and provision of crisis services.(6) The integration of behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment.(7) Cultural competencies when providing behavioral health care.(8) The impact of social determinants of health on behavioral health.(9) The intersection of behavioral health and the criminal justice system.(10) Establishing an integrated care model that can deliver timely psychiatric care in a primary care setting.(k)Recipients.--The report under subjection (j) shall be made available on the Department of Human Services' publicly accessible Internet website and shall be issued to the following: (2) The Secretary of Human Services.(3) The Secretary of the Budget.(4) The President pro tempore of the Senate.(5) The Majority Leader of the Senate.(6) The Minority Leader of the Senate.(7) The Speaker of the House of Representatives.(8) The Majority Leader of the House of Representatives.(9) The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.(10) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the Appropriations Committee of the Senate.(11) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives.(12) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the Health and Human Services Committee of the Senate.(13) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the Health Committee of the House of Representatives.(14) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the Human Services Committee of the House of Representatives.(l)Termination.--The Behavioral Health Commission for Adult Mental Health shall terminate upon the issuance of the report under subsection (j).Added by P.L. TBD 2022 No. 54, § 8, eff. 7/11/2022.