The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) may have a requirement for Improvements to Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Services.

The following is taken from the Request for Information (RFI) and is subject to change upon the release of a formal solicitation.

INTRODUCTION

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) may have a requirement for Improvements to Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Services.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this RFI is to solicit specific information to assist the DPHHS in developing short and mid range strategies to strengthen the continuum of behavioral health and developmental disabilities services to Montanans.

This RFI seeks input on actions that could be taken in calendar years 2023, 2024, and 2025 that would provide stabilization, improvement, or increases in quality services available to individuals with a behavioral health and/or developmental disability diagnosis.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this RFI is to solicit specific information to assist the DPHHS in developing short and mid range strategies to strengthen the continuum of behavioral health and developmental disabilities services to Montanans.

This RFI seeks input on actions that could be taken in calendar years 2023, 2024, and 2025 that would provide stabilization, improvement, or increases in quality services available to individuals with a behavioral health and/or developmental disability diagnosis.

BACKGROUND

Governor Greg Gianforte signed House Bill 872 into law on May 22, 2023, providing a generational investment to reform and improve Montana’s behavioral health and developmental disabilities service systems. A central component of the governor’s Budget for Montana Families, the $300 million investment will expand intensive and community-based behavioral health care and developmental disabilities services across Montana.

Pursuant to HB 872, eligible uses of the $300 million include:

• Medicaid and CHIP matching funds for payments made to behavioral health settings;
• Medicaid and CHIP matching funds for payments made to intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities;
• statewide community-based investments to stabilize behavioral health and developmental disabilities service providers and delivery, increase and strengthen the behavioral health and developmental disabilities workforce, increase service capacity to meet identified behavioral health and developmental disabilities services demands, and increase opportunities for Montanans to receive integrated physical and behavioral health care;
• acquisition of new or remodeling of existing infrastructure or property to support the establishment of behavioral health settings and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities;
• planning, operation, or other contract expenses associated with intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities; and planning, operation, or other contract expenses associated with behavioral health settings.

House Bill 872 establishes a commission to make recommendations on investments to the governor.  A summary report of the responses to this RFI will be provided to the commission in the fall/winter of 2023.

The following is taken from the Request for Information (RFI) and is subject to change upon the release of a formal solicitation.

SCOPE OF WORK

To better understand challenges and opportunities and to develop strategies to improve service delivery systems for behavioral health and developmental disability populations, please respond to any or all of the following questions.

Tell us who you are. Check all that apply:

• Behavioral health service provider
• Developmental disability service provider
• Consumer/client
• Advocate
• Behavioral health or developmental disability association
• Hospital organization
• Other interested party

Please answer the following questions that are applicable to your situation regarding behavioral health services, developmental disabilities services, workforce, and access.

Where possible, please include examples such as infrastructure investments, workflow and practice improvement support strategies, service expansion (or re-instatement) grants, or other innovations that the department should consider implementing in the next three years to promote comprehensive, integrated behavioral health and developmental disabilities services. Where possible, please provide relevant examples of evidence-based models and/or promising state and local approaches.

Please answer the following questions regarding behavioral healthcare services:

1) What are the top three challenges with outpatient (including intensive outpatient) behavioral health service delivery in Montana today?

2) What are the top three challenges with inpatient behavioral health service delivery in Montana today?

3) In addition to Medicaid provider rate increases currently being implemented by DPHHS, what do you see as the greatest opportunity to rapidly impact behavioral health services in Montana?

4) How can investments in the following play a role in improving behavioral health in Montana:

a. peer support specialists,
b. community health workers, and
c. direct care workers

5) Provide any additional comments about what is needed to benefit behavioral health service delivery in Montana.

Please answer the following questions regarding services for individuals with developmental disabilities:

1) What are the top three challenges with developmental disabilities service delivery in Montana today?

2) In addition to the provider rate increases currently being implemented by DPHHS, what do you see as the greatest opportunities to rapidly impact developmental disabilities services in Montana?

3) How can investments in the following play a role in improving developmental disabilities services in Montana:

a. peer support specialists;
b. community health workers;
c. direct care workers

4) Provide any additional comments about what is needed to benefit developmental disabilities service delivery in Montana.

Please answer the following questions regarding workforce and consumer/client access:

1) What policies or process changes would encourage greater behavioral health and/or developmental disabilities service provider participation in Medicaid and CHIP?

2) What policies would best incentivize behavioral health and/or developmental disabilities service providers to train and practice in rural and other underserved areas?

3) What policies could improve and ensure equitable access to and quality of care in behavioral health and/or developmental disabilities services for minority populations and geographically underserved communities?

4) Provide any additional comments about what is needed to improve workforce and access in the behavioral health and/or developmental disabilities service system in Montana.