Blog

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Association of Managing Entities CEO Natalie K. Kelly issued the following statement on the Florida Legislature’s Fiscal Year 2022/2023 budget, which includes more than $100 million in recurring funds for behavioral health services.

“The Florida Legislature has truly shown up for Floridians and prioritized the behavioral health services that many rely on to lead productive and healthy lives. The more than $100 million in recurring funding for behavioral health services will help expand services, increase care coordination and enhance the overall system in Florida for residents of all ages.

“Florida’s Managing Entities are grateful to the Legislature for recognizing the tremendous need for behavioral health services in our state and for shaping policy that will change Floridians’ lives for the better.”

Florida’s seven local Managing Entities work with a network of over 300 behavioral health care providers who deliver services to over 300,000 of Florida’s most vulnerable residents, including children, expectant mothers, veterans, and the chronically homeless.

Providers meet patients’ diverse needs with “wraparound services” that not only address mental health issues and substance abuse, but also assist with housing, transportation, and employment. Community boards administer, manage, and ensure accountability of state and federal funds for behavioral health services, keeping oversight and accountability closest to the people they serve.

# # #

About the Florida Association of Managing Entities

The Florida Association of Managing Entities (FAME) is the statewide organization representing Florida’s seven Managing Entities. FAME’s mission is to advance the behavioral health recovery of individuals and their families in the state of Florida. For more information, visit FLManagingEntities.com. 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.–Coming on the heels of the passage of Senate Bill 282, which has been sent to Governor DeSantis and will bolster Florida’s peer specialist system, the Legislature today continued its momentum to enhance behavioral health in Florida with passage of SB 1262 and SB 1844. Florida Association of Managing Entities CEO Natalie K. Kelly released the following statement:

“We are so grateful to the entire Florida Legislature for their support of significant legislation that will enhance the behavioral health system in Florida. Three key pieces of legislation will transform how Florida delivers behavioral health services.

“Thanks to the Legislature, peer specialists, who can use their own experiences to help others in mental health and substance use disorder recovery, have a more streamlined and simplified process to becoming one through the Certified Peer Recovery Specialist program.

“With the passage of Senate Bill 1262, families will now have an easier time accessing emergency behavioral health services, which can change the outcome of an emergency situation with the provision of early care. 

“Also, Senate Bill 1844 goes a long way toward destigmatizing mental health care for children by eliminating the court process, among other provisions. 

Florida’s seven local Managing Entities work with a network of almost 300 behavioral health care providers who deliver services to over 300,000 of Florida’s most vulnerable residents, including children, expectant mothers, veterans, and the chronically homeless.

Providers meet patients’ diverse needs with “wraparound services” that not only address mental health issues and substance abuse, but also assist with housing, transportation, and employment. Community boards administer, manage, and ensure accountability of state and federal funds for behavioral health services, keeping oversight and accountability closest to the people they serve.

# # #

About the Florida Association of Managing Entities

The Florida Association of Managing Entities (FAME) is the statewide organization representing Florida’s seven Managing Entities. FAME’s mission is to advance the behavioral health recovery of individuals and their families in the state of Florida. For more information, visit FLManagingEntities.com. 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –Florida Association of Managing Entities CEO Natalie K. Kelly applauds the Legislature for prioritizing behavioral health services and encourages legislators to support the House of Representatives’ recommendation to allocate additional recurring funds to the Managing Entities to expand behavioral health services in accordance with the triennial needs assessment.

“Every three years, the Managing Entities conduct an extensive needs assessment of behavioral health services in communities throughout Florida and provide this assessment to the Department of Children and Families. We implore legislators to expand behavioral health services and to support the House’s recommendation to allocate $150 million in recurring funds to the Managing Entities to meet identified needs in communities.

“Behavioral health needs aren’t limited to treatment and counseling, but they also address housing, transportation and employment assistance. All of these needs help people live life to their fullest potential. 

“By having Florida’s seven Managing Entities manage the funding, local needs are met with precision, as needs can vary throughout the state.”

Florida’s seven local Managing Entities work with a network of over 300 behavioral health care providers who deliver services to over 300,000 of Florida’s most vulnerable residents, including children, expectant mothers, veterans, and the chronically homeless.

Providers meet patients’ diverse needs with “wraparound services” that not only address mental health issues and substance abuse, but also assist with housing, transportation, and employment. Community boards administer, manage, and ensure accountability of state and federal funds for behavioral health services, keeping oversight and accountability closest to the people they serve.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Association of Managing Entities CEO Natalie K. Kelly issued the following statement after the House of Representatives’ unanimous passage of CS/Senate Bill 282, and CS/House Bill 795, by Representatives Fetterhoff and Hart. 

CS/SB 282, Peer Specialist bill, reduces the barriers of background screenings and offers more flexibilities for individuals to become peers for those in recovery. The bill also bolsters the Certified Recovery Peer Specialist program by streamlining the training process and allowing the Department of Children and Families to work with behavioral health Managing Entities to provide and contract with the appropriate, community-based training programs and trainers that offer evidenced-based trainings.

“I applaud the House of Representatives for passing the Peer Specialist bill, which gives an individual more opportunities to become a peer for those in recovery, and enhances the Certified Recovery Peer Specialist program by allowing the Department of Children and Families to work with the state’s seven Managing Entities to contract with the appropriate training providers.

“Peer specialists play a vital role in behavioral health services, as they use their own recovery experiences to help those seeking treatment for substance use disorder and mental illness. Nothing compares to getting help from someone who has faced similar challenges.

“I want to personally thank State Senator Darryl Rouson and Rep. Elizabeth Fetterhoff for their persistence in pushing this legislation and commitment to Floridians in recovery,” said FAME CEO Natalie K. Kelly.

Florida’s seven local Managing Entities work with a network of almost 300 behavioral health care providers who deliver services to over 300,000 of Florida’s most vulnerable residents, including children, expectant mothers, veterans, and the chronically homeless.

Providers meet patients’ diverse needs with “wraparound services” that not only address mental health issues and substance abuse, but also assist with housing, transportation, and employment. Community boards administer, manage, and ensure accountability of state and federal funds for behavioral health services, keeping oversight and accountability closest to the people they serve.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nearly 1 in 3 Floridians in Behavioral Health Safety Net System Use Telehealth Services for Mental Health Care During COVID-19

~ New Data Shows Need for Expanded Mental Health Care Options Post-Pandemic ~

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – New data from the Florida Association of Managing Entities shows that nearly 1 in 3  patients in Florida’s behavioral health safety net system used telehealth services amid the COVID-19 crisis. The data, which was collected by the Managing Entities from over 300 mental health providers across the state, shows Floridians’ growing reliance on this important health care option, which is only temporarily authorized by the state at this time.

“The need to provide substance abuse and mental health services is critical during these stressful times. The fact that nearly one-third of all patients in our behavioral health safety net system used telehealth services demonstrates the need to make this a permanent option beyond the pandemic,” stated Dr. Christine Cauffield, Chair of the Florida Association of Managing Entities and CEO of LSF Health Systems.

Telephonic or audio-only telehealth services, which previously had been unavailable due to HIPAA concerns, were authorized by government agencies at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in order to expand access to health care. Telephonic services are more accessible to low-income, disabled, and elderly Floridians because, unlike traditional telehealth, they omit the video component and often do not require specific software or internet connection.

The data covers service numbers from all 67 Florida counties for July 2020. Key insights include:

• In July, 31.6% of Floridians who received behavioral health safety net services used telehealth services.
• From March to July, there was a 130% increase in the number of Floridians who used telehealth services to receive behavioral health care from the safety net system.
• Since the authorization in March, tens of thousands of Floridians have used telehealth services.

Florida’s Managing Entities continue to see a steady use of telephonic and audio-only telehealth mental health services. However, there is a concern that the use of audio-only mental health services could be eliminated in the coming months if state officials do not act.

The Managing Entities’ safety net system provides mental health and substance abuse services for individuals who are below 200% of the poverty level. Managing Entities were early advocates for authorization of these services in order to prevent interruptions in critical services for this population once social distancing measures were put in place.

“Behavioral health services can help people live to their fullest potential, and by eliminating unnecessary barriers to how people receive critical substance abuse and mental health services, we can help more people lead productive lives,” stated Natalie Kelly, CEO of the Florida Association of Managing Entities.

As the state begins to reopen, the thousands of Floridians throughout Florida currently receiving their care through this option could potentially lose access unless authorization is extended post-pandemic. Managing Entities recommend flexibility in the continued use of these methods as they provide easy access to care for vulnerable Floridians. No timetable has been put in place to end the use of telephonic or audio-only telehealth, but it is expected to come into question as reopening phases progress.

# # #

About the Florida Association of Managing Entities

The Florida Association of Managing Entities (FAME) is the statewide organization representing Florida’s seven Managing Entities. FAME’s mission is to advance the behavioral health recovery of individuals and their families in the state of Florida.