THE BILL ITSELF
CS/CS/HB 783
Coordinated Access Model Pilot Program
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to Coordinated Access Model Pilot
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Program; creating s. 394.45735, F.S.; requiring the
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Department of Children and Families to contract with
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an entity to establish the Coordinated Access Model
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Pilot Program in Clay, Duval, and St. Johns Counties;
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requiring the department to award the contract by a
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certain date; requiring certain contractual
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provisions; providing requirements for the contracted
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entity; requiring the contracted entity to subcontract
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with a certain state university for certain purposes;
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requiring the department and the contracted entity to
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create a coordinated access model; providing model
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requirements; requiring the department to provide
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specified reports to the Governor and the Legislature
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within specified timeframes; authorizing the
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department and the contracted entity to apply for and
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use certain funds to support or expand Coordinated
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Access Models; authorizing the department to adopt
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rules; providing an effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Section 394.45735, Florida Statutes, is created
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to read:
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394.45735 Coordinated Access Model Pilot Program.—
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(1) The Department of Children and Families shall contract
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with an entity to establish and operate a behavioral health
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Coordinated Access Model Pilot Program in the department's
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Northeast Region, including Clay, Duval, and St. Johns Counties,
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to improve timely access to behavioral health services using a
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single point of entry. The department must:
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(a) Award the contract to the selected entity no later
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than December 1, 2026.
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(b) Include contractual provisions to ensure:
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1. Any data created, processed, or maintained under the
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contract is portable and can be extracted in a machine-readable
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format upon request.
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2. The entity will provide, upon request, comprehensive
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operational documentation sufficient to allow continued
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operation and maintenance by the agency or a new entity.
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3. The entity will provide, upon request, reasonable
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assistance and support during a transition to the agency or to a
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new entity.
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4. All anticipated software license fees, license renewal
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fees, and operation and maintenance costs are documented in
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detail. If exact figures are not feasible, the entity must
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provide a reasonable cost range.
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(2) The contracted entity must have experience in all of
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the following:
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(a) Building resource networks, including behavioral
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health providers, community-based organizations, and government
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and social services.
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(b) Connecting individuals requesting assistance with
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resources through a coordinated care network.
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(c) Hosting a platform that supports closed-loop referrals
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and extensive program metrics.
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(3) The contracted entity shall subcontract with a state
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university that is not designated as a preeminent or emerging
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preeminent state research university pursuant to s. 1001.7065(3)
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to provide allied health staff and undergraduate and graduate
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social work and health professions training and internship
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experiences to interact with and screen individuals contacting
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the network access point for assistance.
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(4) The department and the contracted entity shall create
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a coordinated access model which shall:
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(a) Coordinate access to behavioral health services among
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multiple service providers and social service entities for
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individuals requesting assistance.
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(b) Provide timely referral, provider navigation, and
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connection to appropriate levels of care using a single,
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electronic referral and resource platform capable of
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coordinating among multiple providers.
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(5) The coordinated access model must include, at a
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minimum:
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(a) A network access point available during standard
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business hours with options for telephone, web-based, and in-
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person intakes.
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(b) Standardized screening and referral tools to identify
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service needs and eligibility for available programs.
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(c) Referral coordination and warm handoffs to providers,
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including scheduling of first appointments and followup
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confirmation.
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(d) Navigation and followup support to ensure successful
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engagement with referred services.
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(e) Service directory and inventory of community-based
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providers, maintained in real time to the extent practicable.
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(f) Coordination with community systems, including primary
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care providers, schools, social services, and local governments.
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(g) Cultural and linguistic competence to ensure equitable
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access to the county population.
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(h) Use of a data platform that enables standardized data
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collection and reporting on referral outcomes, timeliness of
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service connections, consumer experience, and identification of
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service system gaps. The data platform must:
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1. Support the potential integration with other state and
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local data systems, including, but not limited to, Medicaid,
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managing entities, school-based services, and community health
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systems.
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2. Facilitate data sharing and interoperability in
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compliance with applicable state and federal privacy laws,
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including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
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Act of 1996 and 42 C.F.R. part 2.
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3. Provide a comprehensive view of service utilization and
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coordination across providers, payors, and community partners.
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4. Enable the department to evaluate system performance,
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identify barriers, and inform future resource allocation.
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(6) The coordinated access model shall include measurable
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performance outcomes, including, but not limited to:
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(a) Timeliness of referrals and service connections.
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(b) Successful engagement rates with referred services.
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(c) Reduction in duplication of intake assessments.
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(d) Improved consumer and family satisfaction.
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(7)(a) Until the program is fully implemented, the
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department shall provide reports of the status of the
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Coordinated Access Model Pilot Program quarterly to the
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Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
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House of Representatives.
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(b) By November 30, 2027, and annually thereafter, the
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department shall assess the effectiveness of the pilot program
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and submit a report to the Governor, the President of the
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Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
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(8) The department and the contracted entity may apply for
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and use any funds from private, state, and federal grants to
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support or expand Coordinated Access Models.
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(9) The department may adopt rules to administer this
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section.
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Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.