SF 2300 Mandatory Reporter Training;
SF 2369 – County of Residence;
HF 2285 – Ground Emergency Medical Transportation;
HF 2356 – Direct Primary Care Agreements;
HF 2377 – Opioid Abuse Prevention;
HF 2449 – Substitute Decision Maker;
HF 2451 – Department on Aging Policy Bill;
HF 2456 – Mental Health Services for Complex Needs.
FLOOR ACTION:
SF 2300 requires the Department of Human Services to facilitate a workgroup during the interim on mandatory child abuse reporter training. They must make recommendations on improving the training and certification and report to the Legislature by December 14.
[3/13: 49-0 (Only 49 senators seated)]
SF 2369 changes the term “legal settlement” to “county of residence” for such services as general assistance and veterans’ assistance. This will bring consistency to the Code. “Legal settlement” was changed to “county of residence” for mental health and disability services several years ago. County of residence is the county where a person lives when they apply for or receives services. The person should have established an ongoing presence with the declared, good-faith intention of living in the county permanently or indefinitely. The county of residence of a person who is homeless is the county where they usually sleep.
[3/12: 49-0 (Only 49 senators seated)]
COMMITTEE ACTION:
HF 2285 addresses Ground Emergency Medical Transportation (GEMT). The bill allows Medicaid providers to track actual costs of ground emergency medical transportation and use the unreimbursed portion as the state match to draw down federal funds without additional state appropriations.
[3/13: short form (Excused: Chapman)]
HF 2356 addresses Direct Primary Care Agreements. Also known as concierge medicine, individuals can contract with health care providers individually to pay a monthly fee for a certain set of primary care services.
[3/13: short form (No: Bolkcom, Jochum, Quirmbach; Excused: Chapman)]
HF 2377 addresses opioids. Under the bill, prescribing practitioners must register for the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP); information in the PMP must be submitted within one business day; a surcharge can be added to registration fees for administering the PMP; electronic prescribing required for all opioids by January 1, 2020; an annual report will be sent by the Board of Pharmacy to prescribers detailing their history of prescribing controlled substances; Pharmacy Board may establish penalties for those who prescribe too much of a controlled substance; more substances are added to Schedule I and II; and Good Samaritan language allows a person to seek help for themselves or another individual using drugs.
[3/13: short form (Excused: Chapman)].
HF 2449 is a Department of Aging code clean-up bill. It changes the name of the Office of Substitute Decision Maker to the Office of Public Guardian, and clarifies that local offices may use their own attorney if they wish.
[3/13: short form (Excused: Chapman)]
HF 2451 clarifies programs within the Department of Aging, adds flexibility to distribution of state funds to the Area Agencies on Aging by changing “formula” to “method,” and adds language conforming to federal laws.
[3/13: short form (Excused: Chapman)]
HF 2456 addresses mental health reform based on the Complex Needs Workgroup Recommendations. The bill allows disclosure of mental illness from mental health professionals to law enforcement; updates the commitment laws and process; allows for commitment hearings via video conferencing; allows contracting with a transportation agency for secure transportation of patients; changes Core Plus services to Core Services that are required; requires regions to provide start-up costs; directs Regions to develop 22 Assertive Community Treatment teams, six Access Centers, Intensive Residential Service Homes and a 24-hour crisis hotline; requires a review of the commitment processes and a report on the role of tertiary care psychiatric hospitals; and requires a fiscal viability committee in 2018.
[3/13: short form (Excused: Chapman)]