RD364 - Community Services Boards General Fund Reduction Report (Item 310 Y.3. of the 2019 Appropriations Act) – May 15, 2019


Executive Summary:

During the 2018 session, the Governor proposed and the General Assembly passed Medicaid expansion. As part of this process, the Executive Branch conducted and completed a financial analysis identifying several program resources that would benefit from additional revenue generation through Medicaid expansion and where general fund support could be offset in anticipation of this new Medicaid revenue. One of the program areas identified was Community Services Board (CSB) programs supported through general fund grants to localities. The analysis made the assumption that the CSBs would realize new revenue for the individuals who are currently receiving services who would now be eligible for Medicaid, to include those currently served through Governor’s Access Program (GAP). Based on this analysis, the finalized bill Chapter 2, 2018 Acts of Assembly Special Session I, reduced the general fund appropriation of the CSBs by $11.1 million in FY 2019 and $25.0 million in FY 2020. Based on a subsequent analysis conducted by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) and confirmed based on discussion with CSB leadership, it was determined that CSBs may not generate the anticipated revenue as a result Medicaid Expansion, most certainly if GAP recipients already receiving CSB services were excluded from the methodology. Based on this feedback to Executive leadership and discussions with CSBs, the Governor included in his proposed budget and the General Assembly later modified this language to address the concern. The current Appropriation Act (2019 Acts of Assembly, Chapter 854) includes language requiring DBHDS to provide a report to the Governor and General Assembly on May 15, 2019, and quarterly thereafter on status of CSB general fund reductions resulting from anticipated new revenue generated from Medicaid Expansion.

The following sections provide details, including the methodology and status of the required financial information in the attached Appendix A.