In preparation for the start of the 2014 legislative session, NAMI Idaho's Board of Directors decided to focus the following key issues:

• Creation of behavioral health community crisis centers 
• Behavioral health transformation legislation 
• Medicaid redesign and expansion
• Restoration of dental care to services covered by Medicaid

Board members spent January 27 and 28th visiting with over 35 key legislators and delivering NAMI's message:  Idaho's mental health care system is broken and requires to be redesigned and adequately funded to provide better access to quality care for individuals living with mental illness. 

Throughout the session, NAMI Idaho Board members Kathie Garret and Kathy Mercer were able to attend most Committee hearings were Rules and Legislation was being discussed that would have an impact on the lives of people living with mental illness.  On the issues that NAMI Idaho had taken a position either in favor or opposition, testimony was provided to the Committee and letters were written to all Legislators.

Several key pieces of Legislation passed this year:

H 395 MEDICAID 

Amends existing law to provide dental services for adult participants with disabilities or special health needs including people with mental illness. This legislation restores cuts to Medicaid made during the 2011 Legislative Session in House Bill 260. 

S 1224a Behavioral Health Transformation

The intent of this legislation is to make changes to the Behavioral Health System of Care (BHSC) in Idaho. This legislation will better describe the role of the State Behavioral Health Authority, DHW's Behavioral Health Division, and correctly describe the role of the Regional Mental Health programs. First, the Legislation integrates the substance abuse and mental health systems. Second, it allows local communities to have more influence over the BHSC. Third, it clearly articulates the roles of system partners, public agencies, and Branches of Government. Fourth, it creates a BHSC that is recovery oriented and consumer driven. This legislation will integrate the Regional Advisory Committees (advisory to the substance abuse  system) and the Regional Mental Health Boards (advisory to the mental health system) into a single entity, called the Regional Behavioral Health Board (RBHB), which can accept responsibility for  the support services missing from our current system described above. It will expand the State Behavioral Health on Mental Health to be the State Planning Council on Substance Abuse.

S 1352 Behavioral Health

This Legislation adds to existing law to establish Behavioral Health Community Crisis Centers and to provide for governance, evaluation and funding for crisis centers. While the Legislature passed this Bill, they still have a lot of questions and concerns about them. The bill proposed building three, but the Legislature only funded one. 

 S 1362 Loan Repayment

This Legislation adds to existing law to establish a loan repayment program for physicians, psychologists and mid-level practitioners at certain state hospitals.

Kathie Garrett, Chair

NAMI Idaho Public Policy and Advocacy Committee