Champions for Mental Health
The Advocacy Center
January 15, 2021 | Issue 19
Georgia Assembly
2021 Legislative Session Opened
Monday January 11, 2021 kicked off the 2021 Legislative session. The current pandemic resulted additional rules and guidelines this year including twice-weekly COVID-19 tests required of each Member and legislative staff. This week was focused on swearing in and acclimated Members with some legislation already moving through the process. On Thursday, Governor Brian Kemp gave his State of the State Address to the General Assembly and outlined his budgetary priorities. Watch Recording Here Below you will find a brief overview for the Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities and the Department of Community Health. View the full budget Here
Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities

FY2021 (Amended) Adult Developmental Disabilities Services
  • $2,107,045 reduction to recognize savings from the extension of FMAP during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and transfer $2,107,045 in state funds to the Direct Care Support Services program for ongoing maintenance of closed state hospitals
  • Utilize up to $500,000 for a feasibility study on implementation of behavioral health crisis center for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to be provided to the OPB, House Budget and Research Office, and Senate Budget and Evaluation Office by September 1, 2021
  • Recognize $22,316,316 in state fund savings from the extension of FMAP during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and utilize funds for additional community services
Direct Care Support Services
  • $2,107,045 increase to recognize transfer $2,107,045 in state funds from Adult Developmental Disease Services for ongoing maintenance of closed state hospitals

FY2021 (Amended) Adult Mental Health Services
  • Recognize $3,640,544 in state fund savings from the extension of FMAP during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and utilize funds for additional community services

FY2022 Adult Developmental Disabilities Services
  • $379 increase to reflect an adjustment in the employer share of the Teachers Retirement System from 19.06% to 19.81%
  • $1,957,356 increase for 100 additional slots for the NOW and COMP waiver programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities
  • $10,925,195 increase to reflect the loss of the enhanced FMAP during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
  • $1,541,873 increase to reflect an adjustment of FMAP from 67.03% to 66.85%
Direct Care Support Services
  • $525 increase to reflect an adjustment in the employer share of the Teachers Retirement System from 19.06% to 19.81%
Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities
  • $67,157 increase to replace one-time funds with state funds for the Inclusive Post-Secondary Education (IPSE) program

FY2022 Adult Forensic Services
  • $38,038 increase to reflect an adjustment in the employer share of the Teachers Retirement System from 19.06% to 19.81%
  • $4,651,193 increase to annualize the cost of the 40-bed forensic unit at West Central Regional Hospital in Columbus

FY2022 Adult Mental Health Services
  • $2,335,605 increase to reflect the loss of enhanced FMAP during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
  • $257,039 increase to reflect an adjustment in the FMAP from 67.03% to 66.85%
  • Utilize existing funds to expand the housing supports pilot program for the Georgia Housing Voucher Program

FY2022 Departmental Administration
  • $355,080 increase for four compliance specialists to review corrective action plans related to the Department of Justice Settlement Agreement

Department of Community Health

FY2021 (Amended) Departmental Administration
  • Transfer funds from the Medicaid: Aged, Blind, and Disabled program to the Departmental Administration program to provide funds for prior authorization of independent laboratory services. (Total Funds: $1,700,000) $850,000
  • Provide funds to begin implementation of the Patients First Act (2019 Session). (Total Funds: $5,994,153) $1,803,847
  • Provide funds to plan and implement an All-Payer Claims Database to enable analysis and public reporting of health care costs and utilization for medical, dental, and pharmaceutical services. $750,000
  • Review optional Medicaid services to improve access to care and improve outcomes for children and adolescents involved with the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) and Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS).
Healthcare Facility Regulation Purpose
  • Transfer funds from the Medicaid: Aged, Blind, and Disabled program to the Healthcare Facility Regulation program for long-term care surveyors to comply with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) COVID-19 mandates with addition of $2,448,000
  • Increase funds for contractual services for nursing home surveys to ensure safe and healthy living conditions with addition of $4,860,000
Indigent Care Trust Fund
  • Increase funds to provide the state match for Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments for private deemed and non-deemed hospitals with addition of $35,745,727 (total funding with federal funds attached of more than $108.4 million)
Medicaid- Aged, Blind, and Disabled
  • Reduce funds for growth in Medicaid based on projected need. (Total Funds: ($267,764,091)) ($88,094,386)
  • Increase funds for the hold harmless provision in Medicare Part B premiums. (Total Funds: $3,781,082) $1,254,185
  • Reflect savings for the Part D Clawback as a result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. ($26,097,967)
  • Reduce funds to reflect the extension of the enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. (Total Funds: $0) (215,620,121)
  • Transfer funds from the Medicaid: Aged, Blind, and Disabled program to the Departmental Administration program to provide funds for prior authorization of independent laboratory services. (Total Funds: ($1,700,000)) ($850,000)
  • Transfer funds from the Medicaid: Aged, Blind, and Disabled program to the Healthcare Facility Regulation program for long-term care surveyors to comply with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) COVID-19 mandates. ($2,448,000)
  • Language directing the Department to replace $101,741 in state general funds with nursing home provider fee funds.
  • Language to the Department to replace $295,052 in hospital provider payment funds with state general funds.
Total Changes in the program are reductions of ($331,856,289)
Medicaid- Low-Income Medicaid
  • Increase funds for growth in Medicaid based on projected need. (Total Funds: $165,815,682) $54,557,505
  • Reduce funds to reflect the extension of the enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. (Total Funds: $0) ($127,537,792) 3.
  • Language directing the Department to Replace $50,000,000 in tobacco settlement funds with state general funds to reflect projected revenues.
  • Language directing the Department to replace $2,599,133 in hospital provider payment funds with state general funds. (Total Funds: $0)
Total Changes are reductions in the program of ($72,980,287)
PeachCare for Kids
  • Increase funds for growth in Medicaid based on projected need. (Total Funds: $39,453,012) $6,664,517
  • Reduce funds to reflect the extension of the enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. (Total Funds: $0) ($1,570,972)
Total Changes to the program of $5,093,545

There were no changes to the State Health Benefit Plan, the state’s insurance plan for retirees, teachers and employees.

FY 2022 Departmental Administration
  • Increase funds to reflect an adjustment in the employer share of the Teachers Retirement System from 19.06% to 19.81%. $311
  • Provide funds for prior authorization of independent laboratory services. (Total Funds: $1,700,000) 850,000
  • Provide funds to begin implementation of the Patients First Act (2019 Session). (Total Funds: $10,554,597) $2,625,513
  • Reduce one-time funds for planning and implementation of an All-Payer Claims Database. (750,000)
Total Changes to the program of $2,725,824
Healthcare Facility Regulation
  • Increase funds for contractual services for nursing home surveys to ensure safe and healthy living conditions with addition of $4,860,000
Indigent Care Trust Fund
  • Increase funds to annualize the state match for Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments for private deemed and non-deemed hospitals. (Total Funds: $105,580,694) $35,000,000
Total Change to the program of $35,000,000
Medicaid Aged, Blind and Disabled
  • Reduce funds for growth in Medicaid based on projected need. (Total Funds: ($217,694,331)) ($72,078,593)
  • Increase funds for the hold harmless provision in Medicare Part B premiums. (Total Funds: $18,695,236) 6,309,642
  • Increase funds for the Medicare Part D Clawback payment. $6,463,107
  • Increase funds to reflect the loss of the enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. (Total Funds: $0) $81,809,247
  • Increase funds to reflect an adjustment in the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) from 67.03% to 66.85%. (Total Funds: $0) $21,361,609
  • Language for the Department to Replace $2,763,018 in state general funds with nursing home provider fee funds. (Total Funds: $0)
  • Language for the Department to replace $3,104,879 in state general funds with hospital provider payment funds. (Total Funds: $0)
Total Changes for the program of $43,865,012
Medicaid- Low-Income Medicaid
  • Increase funds for growth in Medicaid based on projected need. (Total Funds: $399,359,780) $132,228,023
  • Increase funds to reflect the loss of the enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. (Total Funds: $0) 78,944,842
  • Increase funds to restore a one-time reduction from retro rate amendment and risk corridors. 51,097,342
  • Replace $62,089,929 in tobacco settlement funds with state general funds. (Total Funds: $0)
  • Reduce funds to reflect a repeal of the Health Insurer Fee (HIF). (Total Funds: ($117,151,691)) ($38,545,835) 
  • Increase funds to reflect an adjustment in the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) from 67.03% to 66.85%. (Total Funds: $0) $13,080,620
  • Increase funds to reflect an adjustment in the enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (e-FMAP) from 76.92% to 76.80%. (Total Funds: $0) 678,663
  • Language for the Department to replace $27,351,143 in state general funds with hospital provider payment funds. (Total Funds: $0)
  • Provide funds to begin implementation of the Patients First Act (2019 Session). (Total Funds: $197,468,585) $65,460,836
Total Changes for the program of $302,944,491
PeachCare for Kids
  • Increase funds for growth in Medicaid based on projected need. (Total Funds: $18,212,907) $4,013,032
  • Increase funds to reflect the loss of the enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. (Total Funds: $0) 4,671,721
  • Increase funds to reflect an adjustment in the enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (e-FMAP) from 76.92% to 76.80%. (Total Funds: $0) 775,065
Total Changes for the program of $9,459,818

There are no changes to the State Health Benefit Plan.
LEGISLATIVE TRACKING
There were several pre-filed bills before the session commenced. Next week we will begin summarizing bills that are introduced. For a full list of bills we are tracking, download our legislative update below.
 Georgia Postpartum Extension Demonstration Waiver Application

On December 11, 2020, Georgia submitted an application for a new section 1115 demonstration titled, Georgia Postpartum Extension. The state proposes to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage for new mothers from a period of sixty days to one hundred and eighty days. The goal of the bill is to provide a continuity of care that reduces maternal morbidity and mortality rates in the state.

The state requested a five-year demonstration approval period and intends to implement the demonstration statewide effective July 1, 2021. The federal public comment period will be open from December 23, 2020 through January 22, 2021. To read the application, and view/submit public comments please click here.

 Mental Health Day at the Capitol 2021 Virtual Edition
Please join the Behavioral Health Services Coalition virtually on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 for Mental Health Day at the Capitol! Anyone whose life is impacted by mental health concerns is welcome!  Legislator appointments will be available. If interested, information is on the registration form for the event.

Corporate sponsorships are available. Contact Lisa Pace at lisa.pace@gpsn.org for more information.
Event Highlights:
 
  • Hear from legislators
  • Hear from the Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Commission Subcommittee Chairs
  • Entertainment provided by R2ISE Theatre
  • Games with prizes
  • Hear from peers about peer services in Georgia
  • Hear from State of Georgia behavioral health leadership
  • Opportunity to engage with legislators via Zoom in private appointments
Legislative Town Hall: Recording
Mental Health Equity in Georgia Legislative Townhall

Currently Georgia ranks the worse in US in access to mental health care including access to insurance, access to treatment, quality and cost of insurance, access to special education, and mental health workforce availability. With the creation of the Behavioral Health Innovation and Reform Commission and groundbreaking peer support movement, Georgia has an opportunity to explore and adopt practices that will strengthen and integrate mental health care. Join Mental Health Advocates to explore the current state of mental health and access to care throughout Georgia. Learn from our panelists about healthcare waivers and mental health policies, workforce shortages and incentives, peer support and recovery, promising practices, community collaboration and advocacy in the pandemic and beyond.

Featuring-
Kim Jones, Executive Director, NAMI GA, Moderator
Monica Johnson, Director, Department of Behavioral Health & DD
Paul Lombardo, Professor, Georgia State University Law
Devon Orland, Director, Georgia Advocacy Office
Laura Harker, Policy Analyst, Georgia Budget and Policy Institute
Chris Johnson, Director of Communications, Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network
MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA OF GEORGIA