The 2003 Legislature passed two bills that will have an impact on providing behavioral health services to Floridians. A requirement in one of them is specifically designed to improve the provision of mental health and substance abuse services to older adults in Florida.

• Behavioral Health Services for Older Floridians. The state budget (SB 2-A) was passed during a Special Session and includes a requirement for the Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA), along with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCF), to implement a coordinated policy to identify and refer to treatment elderly persons with mental health or substance abuse problems. A report on the implementation of the policy and recommendations for addressing the behavioral health service needs of the elderly must be submitted to the Governor and Legislature by February 15, 2004.
• The Florida Substance Abuse and Mental Health Corporation, Inc. CS/SB 2404 creates the Florida Substance Abuse and Mental Health Corporation, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation, to provide oversight and policy recommendations for the substance abuse and mental health systems. The corporation will be under the direction of the Legislature and is to work with DCF, the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), and other state agencies to establish fully developed and integrated mental health and substance abuse systems. The bill also provides for the appointment of an Assistant Secretary for Substance Abuse and Mental Health, who will appoint Program Directors for the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Program Offices. The Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability and the Auditor General are required to jointly conduct an evaluation of the state's substance abuse and mental health systems and their management. Finally, the bill specifies contracting, monitoring, and accreditation requirements for behavioral health services and requirements for contracting with managing entities responsible for the provision and coordination of behavioral healthcare services within a geographic area.

The Legislature passed several other bills that will impact the lives of older Floridians.

• Elderly Services. CS/SB 642 provides guidelines for prioritizing services under the Community Care for the Elderly Program that give higher priority to those who are less able to pay.
• Social Services. CS/CS/SB 1454 allows the use of local funds to draw down federal matching funds to meet local, critical human services needs.
• Alzheimer's Training. Home health agencies, hospices, and adult day care centers are required by HB 1527 to provide written information to new employees about interacting with patients or participants who have Alzheimer's disease or dementia-related disorders. All employees must subsequently receive training in the care of individuals with Alzheimer's disease or related disorders.
• Adult Protective Services. Under CS/SB 1822, DCF must enter into working agreements with law enforcement agencies by March 1, 2004, in order to conduct criminal investigations on allegations of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of vulnerable adults, including elderly adults.
• Services to Persons who are Disabled, Vulnerable, or Elderly. AHCA and DOEA are required by CS/SB 2568 to seek federal approval to implement a Medicaid home and community-based waiver targeted to persons with Alzheimers's disease, to be used to test the effectiveness of Alzheimer's specific interventions in delaying or avoiding institutional placement. The bill also places the Statewide Public Guardianship Office directly under DOEA and strengthens the regulation of professional and public guardians. It creates a Guardianship Task Force within DOEA to examine issues relating to guardianship and incapacity and to make recommendations for improvement to the Governor and Legislature.

Written by: Sharon Anderson

Discussions at the October 2002 Florida Coalition Conference began efforts to establish regional mental health and aging coalitions. The value of regional coalitions comes from networking and collaboration at the local level where people are accustomed to working together on local issues.

The regional groups will work in association with the statewide Florida Coalition (FCOMHA) to continue its efforts in addressing statewide issues. Dr. Larry Dupree, Co-Chair, said the Florida Coalition will also provide consultation and support to the regional groups, networking, support for conference and training development, and provide communication opportunities through the Coalition's web site and newsletter.

Currently, there are two active regional coalitions: Broward Older Adult Workgroup - usually meets every 4th Friday of the month, 2:00 pm, at the Broward County Elderly and Veterans Services office, Ft. Lauderdale. Its mission is to improve the availability and quality of mental health and substance abuse services to Broward County's elders. Contact: Stephen Ferrante at 954-537-2805 or sferrante@broward.org

Tampa Bay Regional Chapter also meets on the 4th Friday of each month in Tampa. Currently its members are developing a resource for the local area specific to the mental health of older people. Contact: Lisa Smiler at 813-960-1848 or lisa.smiler@jewishtampa.com

Other areas considering establishing regional coalitions are:

1. Orlando. Contact: Mimi Reggentin, 407-836-6563 or mimi.reggentin@ocfl.net
2. Sarasota/Manatee. Contact: Pat Riley, 941-556-3242 or priley@seniorfriendship.com

© 2003, Florida Coalition for Optimal Mental Health & Aging