1. (1) No later than July 1, 2025, the BHA shall contract with an independent third-party entity to provide services and supports to behavioral health providers seeking to become a behavioral health safety net provider with the goal of the provider becoming self-sustaining.

2. (2) The independent third-party entity shall assist behavioral health providers in accessing alternative payment models and enhanced reimbursement rates through the BHA and medicaid by providing:

   1. (a) Support to providers in completing the annual cost reporting to inform medicaid rate-setting;
   2. (b) Analysis of current accounting practices and recommendations on implementing new or modified practices to support the soundness of cost reporting;
   3. (c) Administrative support for enrolling in different payer types, including, but not limited to, medicaid, medicare, and commercial insurance;
   4. (d) Billing and coding support;
   5. (e) Claims processing;
   6. (f) Data analysis;
   7. (g) Compliance and training on policies and procedures;
   8. (h) Shared purchasing for technology;
   9. (i) Assistance in building provider capacity to become a behavioral health safety net provider; and
   10. (j) Any other service and support approved by the BHA.
3. (3) The independent third-party entity shall prioritize providing services and supports to a behavioral health provider that has not previously used the state cost report process to set medicaid rates.
4. (4) The independent third-party entity shall be nonpartisan and shall not lobby, personally or in any other manner, directly or indirectly, for or against any pending legislation before the general assembly.

Source: L. 2024: Entire section added, (HB 24-1045), ch. 470, p. 3290, § 27, effective August 7.