Rider 71 requires DSHS to contract with an independent entity for a study of the state’s mental health system and to make recommendations to improve access, service utilization, patient outcomes, and system efficiencies. The study must review current service delivery models for outpatient and inpatient care, the funding levels, financing methodologies, services provided, and community-based alternatives to hospitalization. The review should look to other states for best practices or models that may be successful in Texas. The study must also review and recommend best value practices that the state's public mental health system can implement to maximize the use of federal, state and local funds. DSHS is required to submit the final report to the Legislative Budget Board, the Office of the Governor, Senate Health and Human Services Committee, and House Public Health Committee not later than September 1, 2012.
The Public Consulting Group (PCG) is conducting a comprehensive analysis of the public behavioral health system in Texas, as required by DSHS Rider 71, General Appropriations Act, 82nd Texas Legislature, 2011. PCG is a management consulting firm with 25 years of national experience serving public education, health and human services, and other state and municipal government clients. PCG’s efforts will focus on two major components: (1) a comprehensive study of the current public behavioral health system in Texas and (2) short and long term recommendations for the Texas behavioral health system.
PCG’s comprehensive analysis of the current public behavioral health system in Texas will include a review of the programmatic structure of the system. This work includes the identification of various provider types delivering services, service delivery mechanisms, service offerings, and the various populations receiving services throughout the behavioral system. PCG will also review the financial structure of the current behavioral health system to understand the current and existing sources of funding leveraged to pay for behavioral health services. Lastly, PCG’s analysis of the current behavioral health system will include a review of other states’ behavioral health systems to identify potential options for Texas to improve their behavioral health service delivery system. This initial phase of the analysis will result in the comprehensive report to DSHS on the current state of the public behavioral health system in Texas.
Upon submission of the comprehensive report to DSHS, PCG will begin work on the second phase of the analysis, which will result in providing recommendations to improve access, service utilization, patient outcomes, and system efficiencies. The recommendations generated will include short term recommendations focused on efficiencies and long term recommendations or the behavioral health system.
In addition to available state programmatic and financial data on the behavioral health system, PCG and DSHS recognize that gaining insights from stakeholders is essential to developing a comprehensive view of the behavioral health system. With this in mind, PCG will, with the assistance of DSHS, reach out to the behavioral health community over the next few months to capture additional local data and information that is critical to the success of the analysis. At this time, PCG and DSHS are continuing to finalize the details for these outreach efforts. Once the details are finalized, additional information will be communicated to the behavioral health community to ensure those interested in participating in this effort will have the opportunity to do so.
Comments for this study can also be sent directly to PCG at the following e-mail address: TXBHStudy@pcgus.com.