53-6-2101. (Temporary) Improved youth outcomes for children's mental health services -- legislative purpose. (1) The legislature finds that implementing a pilot project for improved youth outcomes may benefit Montana youth who are in the children's mental health system because experiences in other states show that linking provider payments to desired outcomes and quality improvements may result in improved access to care, better integration and coordination of services, child-centered and family-focused planning, earlier and less restrictive interventions, and a reduced number of treatment days.

(2) The department of public health and human services shall establish a pilot project for improving and tracking evidence-based outcomes for providers of children's mental health services and developing performance-based reimbursement options for providers that are identified by an interim study on improved youth outcomes. The department shall develop the pilot project in accordance with the provisions of this part.

(3) The department of public health and human services shall collect and analyze existing performance data from existing providers and data related to the pilot project in order to determine its effectiveness and to evaluate whether the use of performance-based reimbursement for services should be extended to other services, geographic regions, or populations.

(4) The purpose of the pilot project is to:

(a) improve youth outcomes by stabilizing youth and their families with appropriate services and supports;

(b) improve the partnership and collaborative efforts between the department of public health and human services and providers of children's mental health services; and

(c) link documented outcomes to performance-based reimbursement options for providers, including but not limited to improvements in:

(i) achieving quality benchmarks;

(ii) integration and coordination of care;

(iii) individualized treatment and care plans;

(iv) focus on community-based services;

(v) efforts to ensure recovery and permanent placement for children who are receiving medicaid mental health services or who are in foster care under the supervision of the state; and

(vi) cost control.

(5) The legislature shall review the results of the pilot project to determine:

(a) if the project should be continued or expanded; and

(b) whether modifications are needed before the use of any evidence-based outcomes model is expanded to include additional children, providers, or services. (Terminates June 30, 2019--sec. 7, Ch. 265, L. 2015.)