Fla. Stat. § 394.4573 — Florida Code / Title XXIX / Chapter 394 / Part I / Section 394.4573
394.4573 Coordinated system of care; annual assessment; essential elements; measures of performance; system improvement grants; reports.
Status: in_force

On or before December 1 of each year, the department shall submit to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives an assessment of the behavioral health services in this state. The assessment shall consider, at a minimum, the extent to which designated receiving systems function as no-wrong-door models, the availability of treatment and recovery services that use recovery-oriented and peer-involved approaches, the availability of less-restrictive services, and the use of evidence-informed practices. The assessment shall also consider the availability of and access to coordinated specialty care programs and identify any gaps in the availability of and access to such programs in the state. The department’s assessment shall consider, at a minimum, the needs assessments conducted by the managing entities pursuant to s. 394.9082(5). The department shall compile and include in the report all plans submitted by managing entities pursuant to s. 394.9082(8) and the department’s evaluation of each plan.

(1) As used in this section: (a) “Care coordination” means the implementation of deliberate and planned organizational relationships and service procedures that improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the behavioral health system by engaging in purposeful interactions with individuals who are not yet effectively connected with services to ensure service linkage. Examples of care coordination activities include development of referral agreements, shared protocols, and information exchange procedures. The purpose of care coordination is to enhance the delivery of treatment services and recovery supports and to improve outcomes among priority populations. (b) “Case management” means those direct services provided to a client in order to assess his or her needs, plan or arrange services, coordinate service providers, link the service system to a client, monitor service delivery, and evaluate patient outcomes to ensure the client is receiving the appropriate services. (c) “Coordinated system of care” means the full array of behavioral and related services in a region or community offered by all service providers, whether participating under contract with the managing entity or by another method of community partnership or mutual agreement. (d) “No-wrong-door model” means a model for the delivery of acute care services to persons who have mental health or substance use disorders, or both, which optimizes access to care, regardless of the entry point to the behavioral health care system.

(2) The essential elements of a coordinated system of care include: (a) Community interventions, such as prevention, primary care for behavioral health needs, therapeutic and supportive services, crisis response services, and diversion programs. (b) A designated receiving system that consists of one or more facilities serving a defined geographic area and responsible for assessment and evaluation, both voluntary and involuntary, and treatment or triage of patients who have a mental health or substance use disorder, or co-occurring disorders. 1. A county or several counties shall plan the designated receiving system using a process that includes the managing entity and is open to participation by individuals with behavioral health needs and their families, service providers, law enforcement agencies, and other parties. The county or counties, in collaboration with the managing entity, shall document the designated receiving system through written memoranda of agreement or other binding arrangements. The county or counties and the managing entity shall complete the plan and implement the designated receiving system by July 1, 2017, and the county or counties and the managing entity shall review and update, as necessary, the designated receiving system at least once every 3 years. 2. To the extent permitted by available resources, the designated receiving system shall function as a no-wrong-door model. The designated receiving system may be organized in any manner which functions as a no-wrong-door model that responds to individual needs and integrates services among various providers. Such models include, but are not limited to: a. A central receiving system that consists of a designated central receiving facility that serves as a single entry point for persons with mental health or substance use disorders, or co-occurring disorders. The central receiving facility shall be capable of assessment, evaluation, and triage or treatment or stabilization of persons with mental health or substance use disorders, or co-occurring disorders. b. A coordinated receiving system that consists of multiple entry points that are linked by shared data systems, formal referral agreements, and cooperative arrangements for care coordination and case management. Each entry point shall be a designated receiving facility and shall, within existing resources, provide or arrange for necessary services following an initial assessment and evaluation. c. A tiered receiving system that consists of multiple entry points, some of which offer only specialized or limited services. Each service provider shall be classified according to its capabilities as either a designated receiving facility or another type of service provider, such as a triage center, a licensed detoxification facility, or an access center. All participating service providers shall, within existing resources, be linked by methods to share data, formal referral agreements, and cooperative arrangements for care coordination and case management. An accurate inventory of the participating service providers which specifies the capabilities and limitations of each provider and its ability to accept patients under the designated receiving system agreements and the transportation plan developed pursuant to this section shall be maintained and made available at all times to all first responders in the service area. (c) Transportation in accordance with a plan developed under s. 394.462. (d) Crisis services, including the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline call center, mobile response teams, crisis stabilization units, addiction receiving facilities, and detoxification facilities. (e) Case management. Each case manager or person directly supervising a case manager who provides Medicaid-funded targeted case management services shall hold a valid certification from a department-approved credentialing entity as defined in s. 397.311(11) by July 1, 2017, and, thereafter, within 6 months after hire. (f) Care coordination that involves coordination with other local systems and entities, public and private, which are involved with the individual, such as primary care, child welfare, behavioral health care, and criminal and juvenile justice organizations. (g) Outpatient services. (h) Residential services. (i) Hospital inpatient care. (j) Aftercare and other postdischarge services. (k) Medication-assisted treatment and medication management. (l) Recovery support, including, but not limited to, the use of peer specialists to assist in the individual’s recovery from a substance use disorder or mental illness; support for competitive employment, educational attainment, independent living skills development, family support and education, wellness management, and self-care; and assistance in obtaining housing that meets the individual’s needs. Such housing may include mental health residential treatment facilities, limited mental health assisted living facilities, adult family care homes, and supportive housing. Housing provided using state funds must provide a safe and decent environment free from abuse and neglect. (m) Care plans shall assign specific responsibility for initial and ongoing evaluation of the supervision and support needs of the individual and the identification of housing that meets such needs. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “supervision” means oversight of and assistance with compliance with the clinical aspects of an individual’s care plan. (n) Coordinated specialty care programs.

(3) Subject to a specific appropriation by the Legislature, the department may award system improvement grants to managing entities based on a detailed plan to enhance services in accordance with the no-wrong-door model as defined in subsection (1) and to address specific needs identified in the assessment prepared by the department pursuant to this section. Such a grant must be awarded through a performance-based contract that links payments to the documented and measurable achievement of system improvements.

History: ss. 3, 4, 5, ch. 80-384; s. 5, ch. 84-285; s. 1, ch. 89-211; s. 5, ch. 96-169; s. 100, ch. 2010-102; s. 5, ch. 2016-241; s. 28, ch. 2017-173; s. 7, ch. 2020-39; s. 1, ch. 2022-13; s. 80, ch. 2023-8; s. 7, ch. 2024-176; s. 1, ch. 2025-143.