Audit clears Florida’s behavioral health safety net, highlights efficiency, accountability

Florida’s behavioral health safety net system, overseen by seven regional Managing Entities, ensures that uninsured and underinsured Floridians can access essential behavioral health services regardless of their ability to pay. More than $1 billion goes into this robust system of care, which meets individuals’ acute and long-term behavioral health needs in both crisis and non-crisis settings and supports housing, transportation, and employment.

A recent statutorily required audit of the Managing Entities and the safety net system of care found no significant instances of Fraud, Waste or Abuse, proving the accountability, transparency and strength of this system.

House Bill 633, passed during the last Legislative Session, requires an independent audit of the Managing Entities. Last week, the Department of Children and Families presented it at a Committee meeting to share the audit results.

Bill Hardin, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Office of Substance Abuse & Mental Health, remarked that the audit identified commendable practices and identified enhancements within the system.

During his presentation, Mr. Hardin emphasized that Managing Entities statewide operate at an administrative rate of less than 3% of the total allocations in appropriations and grants totaling $1.2 billion.

He then noted that commendable practices included responsiveness, which is due entirely to the Managing Entities’ past and ongoing transparency and efficiency. This responsiveness facilitated the efficient execution of the audit.

The auditors also noted highly engaged leadership teams among the Managing Entities and overwhelming support from behavioral health providers in the Managing Entity Services network, as indicated by anonymous surveys.

While there were no significant findings of waste, fraud and abuse, areas for improvement within certain processes were identified. Each Managing Entity has independent findings, enabling them to continue enhancing the behavioral health safety net system.

House Bill 633 also called for the streamlined collection and reporting of essential data that shows significant outcomes, services and the return on investment in the state’s behavioral health safety net system. Managing Entities have developed a dashboard to comply with this requirement, and it is now on the Department of Children and Families website.

While Florida’s Managing Entities operate with extreme efficiency at a statewide 3% administrative rate, additional administrative resources will enable them to invest in the recommended enhancements.

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Natalie Kelly is CEO of the Florida Association of Managing Entities.