Idaho Bills

Adds to existing law to provide legislative approval for and to establish provisions regarding assertive community treatment.

This legislation establishes Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) in Idaho Code and provides legislative approval for the Department of Health and Welfare to seek a Medicaid state plan amendment to deliver ACT as a rehabilitative service ACT is an intensive, community-based behavioral health service model for individuals with serious and persistent mental illness who have not been adequately served through traditional clinic-based or episodic care. ACT teams are multidisciplinary and provide 24-hour, 7-day-a-week services delivered primarily in community settings. Services include integrated psychiatric care, medical coordination, substance use treatment, rehabilitative supports, peer support, and crisis response. Currently, ACT operates under administrative rule. This legislation moves the program into statute to clearly define eligibility, team structure, service delivery standards, fidelity requirements, outcome measures, and reimbursement methodology. By codifying ACT, the Legislature establishes clear parameters for accountability, ensures adherence to nationally recognized fidelity standards, and provides long-term program stability. ACT is designed to reduce repeated hospitalizations, incarceration, and emergency system use while improving housing stability, functional capacity, and community integration for participants. This bill formalizes Idaho’s commitment to delivering evidence-based, recovery-oriented mental health services in the least restrictive, most appropriate setting.