Alabama EPSDT Settlement
The State of Alabama has signed a Settlement Agreement to provide a range of intensive home-based services to thousands of Medicaid-eligible youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Serious Emotional Disorder (SED). The Agreement, entered in response to a demand letter and proposed ESDPT class action lawsuit prepared by the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program (ADAP) and the Center for Public Representation (CPR), requires the State to provide five home-based services are modeled after those ordered in the landmark EPSDT case, Rosie D. v. Romney. The Agreement also requires the State to make significant improvements to its EPSDT screening and assessment process, to eliminate access and eligibility restrictions on existing mental health services for children and youth with SED, to develop medical necessity and program specifications for each new home-based service, and to seek funding over the next two years to develop these new services. Read the Settlement Agreement.
The State of Alabama has signed a Settlement Agreement to provide a range of intensive home-based services to thousands of Medicaid-eligible youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Serious Emotional Disorder (SED). The Agreement, entered in response to a demand letter and proposed ESDPT class action lawsuit prepared by the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program (ADAP) and the Center for Public Representation (CPR), requires the State to provide five home-based services are modeled after those ordered in the landmark EPSDT case, Rosie D. v. Romney. The Agreement also requires the State to make significant improvements to its EPSDT screening and assessment process, to eliminate access and eligibility restrictions on existing mental health services for children and youth with SED, to develop medical necessity and program specifications for each new home-based service, and to seek funding over the next two years to develop these new services. Read the Settlement Agreement.
Governor Ivey Announces Funding for New Behavioral Health Services
MONTGOMERY — Governor Kay Ivey announced that Alabama has set aside $11 million in its passed budgets for the Alabama Department of Mental Health to expand behavioral health services for Medicaid-eligible children and youth. When combined with federal matching funds, the money is expected to generate more than $36 million in total spending during the 2019 fiscal year, beginning October 1, 2018.
The funding will expand services provided at home or in the community to two groups of young people. One group is children and youth with severe emotional disturbance. The other group is children and youth with autism spectrum disorder.
For both groups, these services will be designed to help recipients manage the behavioral aspects of their condition. For example, for both groups, the state will fund therapy teams to work with an affected young person and his or her family members to develop a behavior plan and provide home-based services that reflect the young person’s unique diagnosis and circumstances.
For this reason, the funding is expected to produce savings in other areas of public spending. In the short term, these services should reduce the number of crises experienced by the affected children and youth, thereby reducing the demands on schools and emergency services. Over the longer term, the services should reduce spending on residential mental health treatment.
Governor Ivey thanked lawmakers for including this money in the FY 2019 budgets and for embracing this new approach to services.
“These are needed services that I believe will help many of our children and youth live happier, more productive lives,’’ Governor Ivey said. “At the same time, these services will help us save money in other areas. This proves that in Alabama, we can be both compassionate and good stewards of taxpayer dollars.”
Vivian Spears of Tuscaloosa, who has an adult son with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disabilities, also applauded the funding. “It definitely should improve the quality of life for children and youth, and it brings hope to families and caregivers who are affected by autism spectrum disorder,” said Ms. Spears.
Governor Ivey thanked two nonprofit advocacy groups—the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program and the Center for Public Representation—for working with her administration with respect to these new services. She also acknowledged the role they will play in implementing the new services going forward.
MONTGOMERY — Governor Kay Ivey announced that Alabama has set aside $11 million in its passed budgets for the Alabama Department of Mental Health to expand behavioral health services for Medicaid-eligible children and youth. When combined with federal matching funds, the money is expected to generate more than $36 million in total spending during the 2019 fiscal year, beginning October 1, 2018.
The funding will expand services provided at home or in the community to two groups of young people. One group is children and youth with severe emotional disturbance. The other group is children and youth with autism spectrum disorder.
For both groups, these services will be designed to help recipients manage the behavioral aspects of their condition. For example, for both groups, the state will fund therapy teams to work with an affected young person and his or her family members to develop a behavior plan and provide home-based services that reflect the young person’s unique diagnosis and circumstances.
For this reason, the funding is expected to produce savings in other areas of public spending. In the short term, these services should reduce the number of crises experienced by the affected children and youth, thereby reducing the demands on schools and emergency services. Over the longer term, the services should reduce spending on residential mental health treatment.
Governor Ivey thanked lawmakers for including this money in the FY 2019 budgets and for embracing this new approach to services.
“These are needed services that I believe will help many of our children and youth live happier, more productive lives,’’ Governor Ivey said. “At the same time, these services will help us save money in other areas. This proves that in Alabama, we can be both compassionate and good stewards of taxpayer dollars.”
Vivian Spears of Tuscaloosa, who has an adult son with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disabilities, also applauded the funding. “It definitely should improve the quality of life for children and youth, and it brings hope to families and caregivers who are affected by autism spectrum disorder,” said Ms. Spears.
Governor Ivey thanked two nonprofit advocacy groups—the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program and the Center for Public Representation—for working with her administration with respect to these new services. She also acknowledged the role they will play in implementing the new services going forward.