By a vote of 49-0, the Indiana Senate Monday afternoon approved legislation they hope will improve Indiana’s mental health infrastructure.

The legislation < SB 1, does the following…

 Provides that, subject to certain procedures and requirements, the office of the secretary of family and social services may apply to the United States Department of Health and Human Services: (1) for a Medicaid state plan amendment, a waiver, or an amendment to an existing waiver to require reimbursement for eligible certified community behavioral health clinic services;

(2) to participate in the expansion of a community mental health services demonstration program. Requires the division of mental health and addiction to establish and maintain a help line:

  • To provide confidential emotional support and referrals to certain resources to individuals who call the help line;
  • That is accessible by calling a toll free telephone number.

It also establishes the Indiana behavioral health commission (commission) and sets forth the commission’s membership. Changes the name of the “9-8-8 crisis hotline center” to “9-8-8 crisis response center”.

The legislation must now be approved by the Senate Appropriations committee.