Arizona offers eligible adults a serious mental illness treatment pilot

The law provides for a three-year pilot offering enhanced residential treatment to eligible adults with serious mental illness. Applicants must be at least 18, live in Arizona, have a serious mental illness, meet the program's care criteria, and meet financial eligibility rules. Income generally cannot exceed 300 percent of the federal Supplemental Security Income benefit rate, and applicants must meet long-term care resource rules. The program depends on federal approval and available appropriations. The program may serve up to 60 members statewide. The administration may raise that cap only if reported data show the funding could support more members, subject to available appropriations and review by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee. The three-year pilot period begins when federal officials approve the program. Enrollment must begin within one year after approval, subject to available appropriations.

State health officials must license enhanced residential treatment facilities and adopt rules for licensing, staffing, and building standards. These facilities serve residents with serious mental illness and may provide behavioral health care, structured support services, and health-related services. Facilities may provide care at the facility, through coordinated community services, or through both. Before starting a member's discharge, providers must document behavioral interventions, crisis support, and staffing adjustments. They need contractor approval before giving a nonemergency notice to leave. A provider need not continue services when immediate, documented safety risks cannot be reduced through reasonable clinical steps.

Estate recovery rules apply to people eligible for the serious mental illness treatment pilot. This applies to people eligible for the serious mental illness treatment pilot. The rules allow claims against a member's estate and liens on property to recover paid assistance, subject to state and federal law. A personal representative must notify the administration within three months after the death of a member who was at least 55, if the administration has not already filed a claim in the estate proceedings.