The house standing committee on health services recently met to discuss potential regulation changes, including one which may affect the mental health care of eastern Kentuckians. Proposed regulation 907 KAR 001:044 would expand the definition of the Mental Health Associate profession and rename it Behavioral Health Associate. This change would add requirements not currently in place, such as licenses.
Jonathan Scott, Regulations Coordinator for the Department for Medicaid Services, said this regulation change would increase the overall quality of mental health care that Kentucky residents are able to receive.
“We are proposing that the BHA be an individual that is matriculating towards higher education. That they be enrolled in a graduate program. There are a couple of exceptions to that, especially for narcotic treatment centers but other than that, these need to be individuals who are able to be connected to a licensing board or who are under an employer or a provider who is licensed,” said Scott.
Scott said this change would be beneficial to all, especially those who use Medicaid services.
“These are folks who currently could be diagnosing, who could be providing high level behavioral health services to individuals, and our concern is that Medicaid individuals are receiving a lower level of services from folks who are not fully licensed and who are not going to be,” said Scott.
However, there is opposition to this change. Mountain Comprehensive Care, a healthcare network in Eastern Kentucky, said their MHA’s wouldn’t be able to meet the new license requirements, citing education costs and workforce shortages. If this change were to go through, a portion of their MHA’s would no longer be able to practice, leaving them with fewer staff to help their large patient base.
The proposal has been deferred until the general assembly reconvenes.