Medicaid beneficiaries in Montana are set to receive extended behavioral health provisions, encompassing housing aid, treatment incentives, and re-entry services for individuals involved in the criminal justice system, beginning 30 days before their release.
This development follows the approval by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services of Medicaid service expansion for three initiatives within an established state program.
Governor Greg Gianforte’s administration, in conjunction with the state health department, announced these changes on Monday.
The housing assistance and treatment incentive initiatives are anticipated to launch in the upcoming fall, while the pre-release services are slated for late 2025.
Housing Stability for Medicaid Mental Health Patients
The housing initiative, known as Tenancy Supports, aims to assist Medicaid beneficiaries grappling with severe mental illness or substance use disorder who face housing instability or homelessness in securing and maintaining stable housing arrangements.
To qualify for housing aid, individuals must exhibit at least one risk factor, such as experiencing homelessness or being at risk of it, having a history of extended stays in institutional settings, or frequenting emergency departments or hospitals.
The Department of Public Health and Human Services has established a provider workgroup tasked with overseeing the implementation of tenancy support services, with the group holding its inaugural meeting on January 30th.
Under the treatment incentive scheme, dubbed Contingency Management, individuals aged 18 and above covered by Medicaid and undergoing treatment for a diagnosed stimulant use disorder will have the opportunity to receive modest motivational rewards for achieving treatment objectives.
Medicaid’s Justice-Involved Reentry Support
The Justice-Involved Reentry Services initiative is designed to offer specialized Medicaid support to individuals categorized as “justice-involved populations” during the 30-day period preceding their release from incarceration.
This support encompasses care management, limited access to community-based clinical consultations either in-person or through telehealth channels, as well as medication provision.
To qualify for participation, individuals must be aged 18 and above and have a formally diagnosed substance use disorder or mental health condition.
These services have been authorized under a federal 1115 waiver, granting the Secretary of Health and Human Services the authority to approve novel projects that are deemed consistent with the objectives of the Medicaid program.
