SENATE BILL REPORT

                           ESSB 6547

              AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 10, 1994

Brief Description:  Providing for auditing of mental health systems.

SPONSORS: Senate Committee on Health & Human Services (originally sponsored by Senators Sheldon, Niemi, Prentice and Anderson)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6547 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Talmadge, Chairman; Wojahn, Vice Chairman; Deccio, Erwin, Franklin, Fraser, Hargrove, McAuliffe, McDonald, Moyer, Niemi, Prentice, Quigley, L. Smith and Winsley.

Staff:  Don Sloma (786‑7319)

Hearing Dates: February 3, 1994

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

BACKGROUND:

The 1989 reform of the state's mental health system (SB 5400) had as one of its goals "... reduced administrative layering, duplication, and reduced administrative costs..." (RCW 71.24.015).

Evaluation reports by the Legislative Budget Committee, the University of Washington and others have documented that this aim of the legislation may not have been achieved.  In addition, mental health service providers, county personnel and state personnel continue to voice concern about duplicative auditing procedures, paperwork and other accountability measures.  Some claim as much as half of the funding now provided to mental health programs is consumed in administrative oversight activities, making these funds unavailable to support direct patient care.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Social and Health Services must establish a single project to streamline accountability systems for mental health programs by:  identifying rules; monitoring functions and other  requirements leading to inefficiencies and eliminating them; developing a single accountability system for all state appropriated funds for mental health services; replacing process regulations and reporting requirements with a set of outcome objectives specified in the act; and evaluating the feasibility of including financial incentives for achieving outcomes in contracts with mental health service providers and regional support networks.

The project must be implemented in at least six regional support networks by July 1995, with full implementation statewide by July 1997.  The department must report to the Legislature annually.  The department, regional support networks and mental health service providers must also report on the need to change state or federal statutes, rules, policies or procedures to ensure the purposes of the act are implemented.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

The act is needed to reduce paperwork and improve accountability for outcomes.  The result should be more efficient use of public funds.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  PRO:  Marvin Porter, Mike Morris, Harborview Hospital; Diedrich Meinken, WA Community Mental Health Council; Ann Brand, Washington Community Mental Health Council; David Hanig, DSHS

HOUSE AMENDMENT(S):

Between two and six pilot projects are authorized.  Specific outcome measures are removed, and the pilot projects are required to develop outcome measures as part of the project.  Mental health clients and their representative will participate in the pilot projects.  The most effective and efficient results of the pilot projects will be implemented statewide by July 1997.