A bill that prioritizes certain populations for access to state-funded mental health services passed the Wyoming House and is on its way to the Senate.
Wyoming Department of Health Deputy Director Stefan Johansson said during the last interim session his agency worked with the legislature's Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Committee to craft House Bill 38 and to narrow down which populations should be priority.
"So essentially moving away from what's really a grant-funded general access model in our community mental health system now," said Johansson, "to something that really prioritizes clients that the state should first and foremost provide community mental health and substance services to."
Johansson said those priority groups include high needs children and families, as well as people who are involved with the justice system.