HB 1432, which would consolidate the state’s public health system, was voted out of the House of Representatives on March 2. The bill is an important step in the state’s effort to integrate the physical and behavioral health system. The bill would require the Department of Health to develop a plan that must include:
- Activities and services that qualify as foundational public health services;
- An assessment of current capacity, unmet needs, and service delivery models to provide foundational public health services;
- A statewide model for shared services and a plan for further implementation;
- A comprehensive accountability structure, including performance measures;
- The cost of providing foundational public health services statewide;
- A funding allocation model to ensure services are provided across the state; and
- Recommended schedules for periodic updates, evaluations, assessments, and reporting progress.