Proposed Budget Bill Amendment Threatens BH Carve-Out

Over the past few months, legislation has been introduced to eliminate Pennsylvania’s behavioral health carve-out model. Two legislators from York County, Rep. Seth Grove and Senator Kristin Phillips, introduced companion bills HB 335 and SB 268, which call for merging behavioral health with the larger statewide physical health system and network; however, both of these bills have stalled due to push back from stakeholders, who support continuation of the behavioral health carve-out model.

Despite the fact that these bills have stalled in the legislative process, Rep. Grove is urging his leadership to insert a provision into a budget bill (the Health and Human Service Code) to have the Legislative Budget & Finance Committee (LBFC) perform a “study” on the behavioral health carve-out model, thus bypassing the committee and traditional legislative process.

RCPA is asking members to contact their legislators and urge them to reject any efforts to eliminate or weaken the behavioral health carve-out model. When speaking to your legislator, please find talking points for opposing any amendments to budget bills that will affect the behavioral health carve-out model. Questions, contact RCPA Director of Government Affairs Jack Phillips.