Family-Based Foster Care Services Act of 2015

To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide a standard definition of therapeutic foster care services in Medicaid. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Family-Based Foster Care Services Act of 2015 2. Inclusion of therapeutic foster care as medical assistance (a) In general Section 1905 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396d (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (28), by striking and (B) by redesignating paragraph (29) as paragraph (30); and (C) by inserting after paragraph (28) the following new paragraph: (29) therapeutic foster care services described in subsection (ee); and ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (ee) (1) For purposes of subsection (a)(29), subject to subparagraph (C), therapeutic foster care services described in this subsection are services provided for children who have not attained age 21, and who, as a result of mental illness, other emotional or behavioral disorders, medically fragile conditions, or developmental disabilities, need the level of care provided in an institution (including a psychiatric residential treatment facility) or nursing facility the cost of which may be reimbursed under the State plan but who can be cared for or maintained in a community placement, through a qualified therapeutic foster care program described in paragraph (2). (2) A qualified therapeutic foster care program described in this paragraph is a program that— (A) not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this subsection, is licensed by the State and accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health­care Organizations, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, the Council on Accreditation, or by another equivalent accreditation agency (or agencies) as the Secretary may recognize; (B) provides structured daily activities, including the development, improvement, monitoring, and reinforcing of age-appropriate social, communication and behavioral skills, trauma-informed and gender-responsive services, crisis intervention and crisis support services, medication monitoring, counseling, and case management, and may furnish other intensive community services; and (C) provides biological parents, kinship caregivers, and foster care parents with specialized training and consultation in the management of children with mental illness, trauma, other emotional or behavioral disorders, medically fragile conditions, or developmental disabilities, the impact of trauma on child and caregiver, and specific additional training on the needs of each child provided such services. (3) In making coverage determinations under paragraph (1), a State may employ medical necessity criteria that are similar to the medical necessity criteria applied to coverage determinations for other services and supports under this title. (4) The services described in this subsection do not include the training referred to in paragraph (2)(C). . (b) Effective date The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to calendar quarters beginning on or after the date of enactment of this Act.

Summary: Family-Based Foster Care Services Act of 2015 Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to extend medical assistance coverage to therapeutic foster care services. Requires a qualified therapeutic foster care program to be state-licensed and provide: foster care children under 21 with structured daily activities, including the development of age-appropriate social, communication and behavioral skills, trauma-informed and gender-responsive services, crisis intervention and crisis support services, medication monitoring, counseling, and case management; and biological parents, kinship caregivers, and foster care parents with specialized training and consultation in the management of children with mental illness, trauma, other emotional or behavioral disorders, medically fragile conditions, or developmental disabilities, the impact of trauma on child and caregiver, and specific additional training on the needs of each child provided such services.