SECTION 394.9082. Behavioral health managing entities.

• (1) INTENT AND PURPOSE.-

  (a) The Legislature finds that untreated behavioral health disorders constitute major health problems for residents of this state, are a major economic burden to the citizens of this state, and substantially increase demands on the state’s juvenile and adult criminal justice systems, the child welfare system, and health care systems. The Legislature finds that behavioral health disorders respond to appropriate treatment, rehabilitation, and supportive intervention. The Legislature finds that local communities have also made substantial investments in behavioral health services, contracting with safety net providers who by mandate and mission provide specialized services to vulnerable and hard-to-serve populations and have strong ties to local public health and public safety agencies. The Legislature finds that a regional management structure that facilitates a comprehensive and cohesive system of coordinated care for behavioral health treatment and prevention services will improve access to care, promote service continuity, and provide for more efficient and effective delivery of substance abuse and mental health services. It is the intent of the Legislature that managing entities work to create linkages among various services and systems, including juvenile justice and adult criminal justice, child welfare, housing services, homeless systems of care, and health care.

  (b) The purpose of the behavioral health managing entities is to plan, coordinate, and contract for the delivery of community mental health and substance abuse services, to improve access to care, to promote service continuity, to purchase services, and to support efficient and effective delivery of services.
  (2) DEFINITIONS.-As used in this section, the term:

  (a) “Behavioral health services” means mental health services and substance abuse prevention and treatment services as described in this chapter and chapter 397.

  (b) “Coordinated system of care” means the array of mental health services and substance abuse services described in s. 394.4573.

  (c) “Geographic area” means one or more contiguous counties, circuits, or regions as described in s. 409.966.

  (d) “Managed behavioral health organization” means a Medicaid managed care organization currently under contract with the statewide Medicaid managed medical assistance program in this state pursuant to part IV of chapter 409, including a managed care organization operating as a behavioral health specialty plan.

  (e) “Managing entity” means a corporation selected by and under contract with the department to manage the daily operational delivery of behavioral health services through a coordinated system of care.

  (f) “Provider network” means the group of direct service providers, facilities, and organizations under contract with a managing entity to provide a comprehensive array of emergency, acute care, residential, outpatient, recovery support, and consumer support services, including prevention services.

  (g) “Subregion” means a distinct portion of a managing entity’s geographic region defined by unifying service and provider utilization patterns.
  (3) DEPARTMENT DUTIES.-The department shall:

  (a) Contract with organizations to serve as managing entities in accordance with the requirements of this section and conduct a readiness review of any new managing entities before such entities assume their responsibilities.

  (b) Specify data reporting requirements and use of shared data systems.

  (c) Define the priority populations that will benefit from receiving care coordination. In defining such populations, the department shall take into account the availability of resources and consider:

  1. The number and duration of involuntary admissions within a specified time.

  2. The degree of involvement with the criminal justice system and the risk to public safety posed by the individual.

  3. Whether the individual has recently resided in or is currently awaiting admission to or discharge from a treatment facility as defined in s. 394.455.

  4. The degree of utilization of behavioral health services.

  5. Whether the individual is a parent or caregiver who is involved with the child welfare system.

  6. Whether the individual is an adolescent, as defined in s. 394.492, who requires assistance in transitioning to services provided in the adult system of care.

  (d) Support the development and implementation of a coordinated system of care by requiring each provider that receives state funds for behavioral health services through a direct contract with the department to work with the managing entity in the provider’s service area to coordinate the provision of behavioral health services as part of the contract with the department.

  (e) Provide technical assistance to the managing entities.

  (f) Promote the coordination of behavioral health care and primary care.

  (g) Facilitate coordination between the managing entity and other payors of behavioral health care.

  (h) Develop and provide a unique identifier for clients receiving behavioral health services through the managing entity to coordinate care.

  (i) Coordinate procedures for the referral and admission of patients to, and the discharge of patients from, treatment facilities as defined in s. 394.455 and their return to the community.

  (j) Ensure that managing entities comply with state and federal laws, rules, regulations, and grant requirements.

  (k) Develop rules for the operations of, and the requirements that shall be met by, the managing entity, if necessary.

  (l) Periodically review contract and reporting requirements and reduce costly, duplicative, and unnecessary administrative requirements.
  (4) CONTRACT WITH MANAGING ENTITIES.-

  (a) In contracting for services with managing entities under this section, the department shall first attempt to contract with not-for-profit, community-based organizations with competence in managing provider networks serving persons with mental health and substance use disorders to serve as managing entities.

  (b) The department shall issue an invitation to negotiate under s. 287.057 to select an organization to serve as a managing entity. If the department receives fewer than two responsive bids to the solicitation, the department shall reissue the solicitation and managed behavioral health organizations shall be eligible to bid and be awarded a contract.

  (c) If the managing entity is a not-for-profit, community-based organization, it must have a governing board that is representative. At a minimum, the governing board must include consumers and their family members; representatives of local government, area law enforcement agencies, health care facilities, and community-based care lead agencies; business leaders; and providers of substance abuse and mental health services as defined in this chapter and chapter 397.

  (d) If the managing entity is a managed behavioral health organization, it must establish an advisory board that meets the same requirements specified in paragraph (c) for a governing board.

  (e) If the department issues an invitation to negotiate pursuant to paragraph (b), the department shall consider, at a minimum, the following factors:

  1. Experience serving persons with mental health and substance use disorders.

  2. Established community partnerships with behavioral health care providers.

  3. Demonstrated organizational capabilities for network management functions.

  4. Capability to coordinate behavioral health services with primary care services.

  5. Willingness to provide recovery-oriented services and systems of care and work collaboratively with persons with mental health and substance use disorders and their families in designing such systems and delivering such services.

  (f) The department’s contracts with managing entities must support efficient and effective administration of the behavioral health system and ensure accountability for performance.

  (g) A contractor serving as a managing entity shall operate under the same data reporting, administrative, and administrative rate requirements, regardless of whether it is a for-profit or not-for-profit entity.

  (h) The contract must designate the geographic area that will be served by the managing entity, which area must be of sufficient size in population, funding, and services to allow for flexibility and efficiency.

  (i) The contract must require that, when there is a change in the managing entity in a geographic area, the managing entity work with the department to develop and implement a transition plan that ensures continuity of care for patients receiving behavioral health services.

  (j) By June 30, 2019, if all other contract requirements and performance standards are met and the department determines that a managing entity under contract as of July 1, 2016, has received network accreditation pursuant to subsection (6), the department may continue its contract with the managing entity for up to, but not exceeding, 5 years, including any and all renewals and extensions. Thereafter, the department must issue a competitive solicitation pursuant to paragraph (b).
  (5) MANAGING ENTITY DUTIES.-A managing entity shall:

  (a) Maintain a governing board or, if a managed behavioral health organization, an advisory board as provided in paragraph (4)(c) or paragraph (4)(d), respectively.

  (b) Conduct a community behavioral health care needs assessment every 3 years in the geographic area served by the managing entity which identifies needs by subregion. The process for conducting the needs assessment shall include an opportunity for public participation. The assessment shall include, at a minimum, the information the department needs for its annual report to the Governor and Legislature pursuant to s. 394.4573. The assessment shall also include a list and descriptions of any gaps in the arrays of services for children or adolescents identified pursuant to s. 394.4955 and recommendations for addressing such gaps. The managing entity shall provide the needs assessment to the department.

  (c) Determine the optimal array of services to meet the needs identified in the community behavioral health care needs assessment and expand the scope of services as resources become available.

  (d) Promote the development and effective implementation of a coordinated system of care pursuant to ss. 394.4573 and 394.495.

  (e) Provide assistance to counties to develop a designated receiving system pursuant to s. 394.4573 and a transportation plan pursuant to s. 394.462.

  (f) Develop strategies to divert persons with mental illness or substance use disorders from the criminal and juvenile justice systems in collaboration with the court system and the Department of Juvenile Justice and to integrate behavioral health services with the child welfare system.

  (g) Promote and support care coordination activities that will improve outcomes among individuals identified as priority populations pursuant to paragraph (3)(c).

  (h) Work independently and collaboratively with stakeholders to improve access to and effectiveness, quality, and outcomes of behavioral health services. This work may include, but is not limited to, facilitating the dissemination and use of evidence-informed practices.

  (i) Develop a comprehensive provider network of qualified providers to deliver behavioral health services. The managing entity is not required to competitively procure network providers but shall publicize opportunities to join the provider network and evaluate providers in the network to determine if they may remain in the network. The managing entity shall publish these processes on its website. The managing entity shall ensure continuity of care for clients if a provider ceases to provide a service or leaves the network.

  (j) As appropriate, develop resources by pursuing third-party payments for services, applying for grants, assisting providers in securing local matching funds and in-kind services, and employing any other method needed to ensure that services are available and accessible.

  (k) Enter into cooperative agreements with local homeless councils and organizations for sharing information about clients, available resources, and other data or information for addressing the homelessness of persons suffering from a behavioral health crisis. All information sharing must comply with federal and state privacy and confidentiality laws, statutes, and regulations.

  (l) Work collaboratively with public receiving facilities and licensed housing providers to establish a network of licensed housing resources for mental health consumers that will prevent and reduce readmissions to public receiving facilities.

  (m) Monitor network providers’ performance and their compliance with contract requirements and federal and state laws, rules, regulations, and grant requirements.

  (n) Manage and allocate funds for services to meet federal and state laws, rules, and regulations.

  (o) Promote coordination of behavioral health care with primary care.

  (p) Implement shared data systems necessary for the delivery of coordinated care and integrated services, the assessment of managing entity performance and provider performance, and the reporting of outcomes and costs of services.

  (q) Operate in a transparent manner, providing public access to information, notice of meetings, and opportunities for public participation in managing entity decisionmaking.

  (r) Establish and maintain effective relationships with community stakeholders, including individuals served by the behavioral health system of care and their families, local governments, and other community organizations that meet the needs of individuals with mental illness or substance use disorders.

  (s) Collaborate with and encourage increased coordination between the provider network and other systems, programs, and entities, such as the child welfare system, law enforcement agencies, the criminal and juvenile justice systems, the Medicaid program, offices of the public defender, and offices of criminal conflict and civil regional counsel.

  1. Collaboration with the criminal and juvenile justice systems shall seek, at a minimum, to divert persons with mental illness, substance use disorders, or co-occurring conditions from these systems.

  2. Collaboration with the court system shall seek, at a minimum, to develop specific written procedures and agreements to maximize the use of involuntary outpatient services, reduce involuntary inpatient treatment, and increase diversion from the criminal and juvenile justice systems.

  3. Collaboration with the child welfare system shall seek, at a minimum, to provide effective and timely services to parents and caregivers involved in the child welfare system.

  (t) Promote the use of available crisis intervention services by requiring contracted providers to provide contact information for mobile response teams established under s. 394.495 to parents and caregivers of children, adolescents, and young adults between ages 18 and 25, inclusive, who receive safety-net behavioral health services.
  (6) NETWORK ACCREDITATION AND SYSTEMS COORDINATION AGREEMENTS.-

  (a)1. The department shall identify acceptable accreditations which address coordination within a network and, if possible, between the network and major systems and programs with which the network interacts, such as the child welfare system, the courts system, and the Medicaid program. In identifying acceptable accreditations, the department shall consider whether the accreditation facilitates integrated strategic planning, resource coordination, technology integration, performance measurement, and increased value to consumers through choice of and access to services, improved coordination of services, and effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery.

  2. All managing entities under contract with the state by July 1, 2016, shall earn accreditation deemed acceptable by the department pursuant to subparagraph 1. by June 30, 2019. Managing entities whose initial contract with the state is executed after July 1, 2016, shall earn network accreditation within 3 years after the contract execution date. Pursuant to paragraph (4)(j), the department may continue the contract of a managing entity under contract as of July 1, 2016, that earns the network accreditation within the required timeframe and maintains it throughout the contract term.

  (b) If no accreditations are available or deemed acceptable pursuant to paragraph (a) which address coordination between the provider network and major systems and programs with which the provider network interacts, each managing entity shall enter into memoranda of understanding which details mechanisms for communication and coordination. The managing entity shall enter into such memoranda with any community-based care lead agencies, circuit courts, county courts, sheriffs’ offices, offices of the public defender, offices of criminal conflict and civil regional counsel, Medicaid managed medical assistance plans, and homeless coalitions in its service area. Each managing entity under contract on July 1, 2016, shall enter into such memoranda by June 30, 2017, and each managing entity under contract after July 1, 2016, shall enter into such memoranda within 1 year after its contract execution date.
  (7) PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY.-Managing entities shall collect and submit data to the department regarding persons served, outcomes of persons served, costs of services provided through the department’s contract, and other data as required by the department. The department shall evaluate managing entity performance and the overall progress made by the managing entity, together with other systems, in meeting the community’s behavioral health needs, based on consumer-centered outcome measures that reflect national standards, if possible, that can be accurately measured. The department shall work with managing entities to establish performance standards, including, but not limited to:

  (a) The extent to which individuals in the community receive services, including, but not limited to, parents or caregivers involved in the child welfare system who need behavioral health services.

  (b) The improvement in the overall behavioral health of a community.

  (c) The improvement in functioning or progress in the recovery of individuals served by the managing entity, as determined using person-centered measures tailored to the population.

  (d) The success of strategies to:

  1. Divert admissions from acute levels of care, jails, prisons, and forensic facilities as measured by, at a minimum, the total number and percentage of clients who, during a specified period, experience multiple admissions to acute levels of care, jails, prisons, or forensic facilities;

  2. Integrate behavioral health services with the child welfare system; and

  3. Address the housing needs of individuals being released from public receiving facilities who are homeless.

  (e) Consumer and family satisfaction.

  (f) The level of engagement of key community constituencies, such as law enforcement agencies, community-based care lead agencies, juvenile justice agencies, the courts, school districts, local government entities, hospitals, and other organizations, as appropriate, for the geographical service area of the managing entity.
  (8) ENHANCEMENT PLANS.-By September 1 of each year, beginning in 2017, each managing entity shall develop and submit to the department a description of strategies for enhancing services and addressing three to five priority needs in the service area. The planning process sponsored by the managing entity shall include consumers and their families, community-based care lead agencies, local governments, law enforcement agencies, service providers, community partners and other stakeholders. Each strategy must be described in detail and accompanied by an implementation plan that specifies action steps, identifies responsible parties, and delineates specific services that would be purchased, projected costs, the projected number of individuals that would be served, and the estimated benefits of the services. All or parts of these enhancement plans may be included in the department’s annual budget requests submitted to the Legislature.
  (9) FUNDING FOR MANAGING ENTITIES.-

  (a) A contract established between the department and a managing entity under this section shall be funded by general revenue, other applicable state funds, or applicable federal funding sources. A managing entity may carry forward documented unexpended state funds from one fiscal year to the next, but the cumulative amount carried forward may not exceed 8 percent of the annual amount of the contract. Any unexpended state funds in excess of that percentage shall be returned to the department. The funds carried forward may not be used in a way that would increase future recurring obligations or for any program or service that was not authorized under the existing contract with the department. Expenditures of funds carried forward shall be separately reported to the department. Any unexpended funds that remain at the end of the contract period shall be returned to the department. Funds carried forward may be retained through contract renewals and new contract procurements as long as the same managing entity is retained by the department.

  (b) The method of payment for a fixed-price contract with a managing entity shall provide for a 2-month advance payment at the beginning of each fiscal year and equal monthly payments thereafter.
  (10) ACUTE CARE SERVICES UTILIZATION DATABASE.-The department shall develop, implement, and maintain standards under which a managing entity shall collect utilization data from all public receiving facilities situated within its geographical service area and all detoxification and addictions receiving facilities under contract with the managing entity. As used in this subsection, the term “public receiving facility” means an entity that meets the licensure requirements of, and is designated by, the department to operate as a public receiving facility under s. 394.875 and that is operating as a licensed crisis stabilization unit.

  (a) The department shall develop standards and protocols to be used for data collection, storage, transmittal, and analysis. The standards and protocols shall allow for compatibility of data and data transmittal between public receiving facilities, detoxification facilities, addictions receiving facilities, managing entities, and the department for the implementation, and to meet the requirements, of this subsection.

  (b) A managing entity shall require providers specified in paragraph (a) to submit data, in real time or at least daily, to the managing entity for:

  1. All admissions and discharges of clients receiving public receiving facility services who qualify as indigent, as defined in s. 394.4787.

  2. All admissions and discharges of clients receiving substance abuse services in an addictions receiving facility or detoxification facility pursuant to parts IV and V of chapter 397 who qualify as indigent.

  3. The current active census of total licensed beds, the number of beds purchased by the department, the number of clients qualifying as indigent occupying those beds, and the total number of unoccupied licensed beds, regardless of funding.

  (c) A managing entity shall require providers specified in paragraph (a) to submit data, on a monthly basis, to the managing entity which aggregates the daily data submitted under paragraph (b). The managing entity shall reconcile the data in the monthly submission to the data received by the managing entity under paragraph (b) to check for consistency. If the monthly aggregate data submitted by a provider under this paragraph are inconsistent with the daily data submitted under paragraph (b), the managing entity shall consult with the provider to make corrections necessary to ensure accurate data.

  (d) A managing entity shall require providers specified in paragraph (a) within its provider network to submit data, on an annual basis, to the managing entity which aggregates the data submitted and reconciled under paragraph (c). The managing entity shall reconcile the data in the annual submission to the data received and reconciled by the managing entity under paragraph (c) to check for consistency. If the annual aggregate data submitted by a provider under this paragraph are inconsistent with the data received and reconciled under paragraph (c), the managing entity shall consult with the provider to make corrections necessary to ensure accurate data.

  (e) After ensuring the accuracy of data pursuant to paragraphs (c) and (d), the managing entity shall submit the data to the department on a monthly and an annual basis. The department shall create a statewide database for the data described under paragraph (b) and submitted under this paragraph for the purpose of analyzing the use of publicly funded crisis stabilization services and detoxification and addictions receiving services provided on a statewide and an individual provider basis.

  (f) The department shall post on its website, by facility, the data collected pursuant to this subsection and update such posting monthly.

History.-s. 9, ch. 2001-191; s. 8, ch. 2003-279; s. 42, ch. 2004-5; s. 17, ch. 2004-344; s. 1, ch. 2008-243; s. 78, ch. 2010-5; s. 1, ch. 2013-47; s. 1, ch. 2015-102; s. 19, ch. 2016-241; s. 3, ch. 2017-129; s. 4, ch. 2020-107.

History.-s. 9, ch. 2001-191; s. 8, ch. 2003-279; s. 42, ch. 2004-5; s. 17, ch. 2004-344; s. 1, ch. 2008-243; s. 78, ch. 2010-5; s. 1, ch. 2013-47; s. 1, ch. 2015-102; s. 19, ch. 2016-241; s. 3, ch. 2017-129; s. 4, ch. 2020-107.