Bill Would Place Stricter Rules On Community-Based Mental Health Orgs

Under Senate Bill 349, CSBs would have to comply with new regulations aimed at increasing oversight and accountability, including adopting conflict-of-interest rules; appointing public or elected officials to sit on their governing boards; and allowing the state Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities to review the compensation of their chief executives. 

The House passed the bill 163-2. The Senate approved it last month. The bill now heads to the governor’s office, where it’s expected to be signed into law.

SB 349 comes in wake of a recent report citing financial mismanagement and conflict-of-interest at Gateway Behavioral Health Services, a Brunswick-based CSB.

Rep. Christian Coomer, R-Cartersville, a floor leader of Gov. Nathan Deal, presented the bill to the House. At one point, he responded to a lawmaker who asked if a section of SB 349 would prevent issues like those that took place at Gateway.

“I’m not familiar with that particular situation but I do know that the language… is intended to make sure that money received by the CSB is used only for providing service as required by the state contract,” said Coomer.

Other provisions in the bill prohibit CSBs from suing the state and require they gain state approval if setting up subsidiaries. 

Community service boards have been around for decades, but have played a much larger role in recent years due to an aggressive statewide shift from in-patient hospital treatment to community-based programs. It’s part of 2010’s landmark settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice, which followed reports of widespread abuse and neglect in mental health hospitals across the state.

CSBs now receive roughly $300 million in state funds each year and help treat 175,000 Georgians.

Coomer said the bill will make CSBs better.

“There have been a few little bumps along the way and this bill is really designed to make the process more efficient and give additional accountability and oversight in dealing with the money that’s passed through those organizations,” said Coomer.