SB 11 (2019)

Sets aside a total of $9.5 million to increase in-patient beds and affordable, supported housing opportunities for people with mental illness. This bill also requires health insurers to provide coverage for emergency room boarding for mental health reasons that is comparable to coverage for patients admitted for medical surgical reasons. The Senate amended the bill by increasing the total funding to roughly $10.6 million, including funding for a new mobile crisis team or behavioral health crisis treatment center. The Senate amendment also lays out more nuanced requirements for health insurance coverage of emergency room boarding and treatment for mental health reasons.