This bill mandates the appropriation of $1.5 million for the fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 from the Hospital Quality Assurance and Access Assessment Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services. The funds are designated for the medical assistance program to reimburse mental health providers who do not operate within hospitals and provide behavioral health services to Medicaid-eligible participants who are also dually eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare. The bill stipulates that for these dual eligible recipients, the higher reimbursement rate between Medicaid or Medicare will be applied for behavioral health services.

Additionally, the bill expresses the Legislature's intent to maintain the Medicaid rates for mental health providers serving these dually eligible beneficiaries receiving behavioral health services under the medical assistance program. This aims to ensure that mental health providers are adequately compensated for their services to this vulnerable population.