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By Damon Scott, City Desk ABQ
Bernalillo County Commissioners gave their support this week to an emerging initiative that would provide housing and care for thousands of New Mexicans with behavioral health issues, substance use disorders and/or brain injuries who often face institutionalization or incarceration.
Supporters of a behavioral health Medicaid waiver say such individuals end up straining public resources, because more often than not they end up cycling through hospitals, detox facilities, courts and jails without receiving more effective services. Many are experiencing homelessness and are living on the streets or within the shelter system.
The idea — which County Commissioners included on their list of 2025 legislative funding and policy priorities — would help to provide permanent and temporary supportive housing, case management and wraparound services to the population. The 60-day legislative session is set to begin in Santa Fe on Jan. 21.
“Housing, a waiver for substance abuse and mental health — all these things double down on support for vulnerable people, vulnerable populations, which often, though not always, may include those folks that are committing crimes,” County Commissioner Eric Olivas said at Tuesday’s commission meeting in Albuquerque.
Legislation is now in the draft stage for a bill that would require the New Mexico Health Care Authority to apply for a behavioral health Medicaid waiver, which is modeled on an existing program already in place for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, known as the DD waiver.
“For six years, I, along with the other Behavioral Health Initiative housing subcommittee volunteers, struggled with the fact that there was a lack of funding for services — especially housing — for people experiencing serious mental illness,” Michael Barndollar said at Tuesday’s meeting.
If the forthcoming legislation were approved by lawmakers, supporters say it would likely take two to three years to get approvals from the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services.
“It gives us time to ensure the needed behavioral health services are identified and in place in each community,” Barndollar said. “This is critical for funding for housing and other behavioral health services not only for the county but the state.”
Albuquerque attorney Peter Cubra, who has represented those with disabilities for 40 years, is the main force behind the new waiver initiative. He’s organized a working group within the Coalition for a Safer Albuquerque to push for the future bill’s passage, and ultimately its adoption.
Cubra says the waiver is cost-effective for state and local governments as the federal government would pay almost 75% of costs, which it currently does under the DD waiver. He said the first step is to secure startup money from the Legislature — about $1 million — to pay for an initial phase of consulting, technical assistance, employee training and to build interest from provider agencies.
“Community members have been working on this,” County Commissioner Adriann Barboa said at Tuesday’s meeting. “I really feel like we have a bulk of great resources in our community. What we’re lacking is housing, and how long can somebody sustain a treatment recovery plan if they don’t have a shelter over their head?”
Meanwhile, members of the Homeless Coordinating Council have expressed support for the initiative, but as a body have decided to wait until the legislation is finalized before taking a formal vote. The HCC includes members from the county, city and the University of New Mexico’s Health Sciences Center.