House Bill hb0821
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida House of Representatives - 2002 HB 821
By Representative Bean
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to substance abuse and mental
3 health programs; amending s. 394.74, F.S.;
4 deleting authority of the Department of
5 Children and Family Services to use unit cost
6 methods of payment in contracts for the
7 provision of services for local substance abuse
8 and mental health programs; specifying
9 additional requirements relating to such
10 contracts; requiring reports to the
11 Legislature; providing an effective date.
12
13 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
14
15 Section 1. Subsection (2) of section 394.74, Florida
16 Statutes, is amended, subsections (4) and (5) of said section
17 are renumbered as subsections (5) and (6), respectively, and a
18 new subsection (4) is added to said section, to read:
19 394.74 Contracts for provision of local substance
20 abuse and mental health programs.--
21 (2)(a) Contracts for service shall be consistent with
22 the approved district plan.
23 (b) Notwithstanding s. 394.76(3)(a) and (c), the
24 department may use unit cost methods of payment in contracts
25 for purchasing mental health and substance abuse services. The
26 unit cost contracting system must account for those patient
27 fees that are paid on behalf of a specific client and those
28 that are earned and used by the provider for those services
29 funded in whole or in part by the department.
30
31
1
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida House of Representatives - 2002 HB 821
748-109A-02
1 (b)(c) The department may reimburse actual
2 expenditures for startup contracts and fixed capital outlay
3 contracts in accordance with contract specifications.
4 (4) Within existing statewide or district resources,
5 the department shall:
6 (a) Utilize multiyear contracts for large and
7 established provider agencies.
8 (b) Require that contract funds be tied to individual
9 client treatment or service plans and clinical status.
10 (c) Require that contract renewal be based primarily
11 on customer and community satisfaction with services.
12 (d) Privatize the preparation and ongoing
13 administration of contracts to allow for competitive
14 business-sector expertise to guide and shape day-to-day
15 management activities.
16 (e) Incorporate clinical care criteria, including
17 evidence-based models and standards of care, into all existing
18 and new contracts.
19 (f) Utilize electronic formats for all initial
20 contract material and subsequent revisions or amendments, to
21 include electronic signatures.
22 (g) Utilize existing database and financial software,
23 in conjunction with Internet technology, to simplify and
24 expedite contract data collection and reimbursement.
25 (h) Establish a district-level community contract
26 advisory board, consisting of legal and business
27 professionals, to provide input and recommendations regarding
28 recruitment, selection, and retention of the most efficient
29 and viable vendors.
30
31
2
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida House of Representatives - 2002 HB 821
748-109A-02
1 (i) Monitor vendors primarily on the basis of
2 measurable results and provide an annual report card for each
3 vendor that is accessible to the general public and media.
4 (j) Designate any program or agency meeting
5 established criteria as eligible to contract with the
6 department subject to availability of funds and congruence
7 with statewide or district plans.
8 (k) Ensure that all state and local funding partners
9 are participating at statutorily required levels.
10
11 The department shall provide a biennial status report to the
12 Legislature on the activities and requirements described in
13 this subsection.
14 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2002.
15
16 *****************************************
17 HOUSE SUMMARY
18
Removes authority of the Department of Children and
19 Family Services to use unit cost methods of payment in
contracts for the provision of services for local
20 substance abuse and mental health programs. Specifies
additional requirements for such contracts, and duties of
21 the department with respect to such requirements.
Requires the department to report biennially to the
22 Legislature.
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
3
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.