Bill > S1178

This bill establishes a Medication Management, Outreach and Support Program within the Department of Human Services (DHS) to assist individuals with severe and persistent mental illness who are living in the community, aiming to provide them with accessible medication management services to support their health and well-being. The program will fund licensed public or private nonprofit organizations, contracted by the DHS's Division of Mental Health Services, to educate, counsel, and support mental health service consumers, foster collaboration among healthcare professionals, patients, and their families to optimize medication regimens and minimize side effects, and pursue continuous quality improvement. These organizations can apply for grants to hire and retain clinical staff, such as psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, and counselors, to offer more intensive medication management, outreach, after-hours support, early intervention, and crisis management. The Commissioner of Human Services is also tasked with seeking additional funding from private or federal sources, and $8 million is appropriated from the General Fund to implement these provisions, with the act taking effect immediately.