BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PURCHASING COLLABORATIVE

HB 329 establishes a Behavioral Health Purchasing Collaborative to coordinate mental health and substance abuse services across New Mexico state agencies. The collaborative, attached to the Governor's office, will develop statewide service plans addressing regional needs (including rural, cultural, and border issues), consolidate behavioral health funding requests, and set quality standards for contracted providers. It requires the Governor to appoint a Director from nominees submitted by a new nominating committee, and mandates quarterly reports to legislative committees on service metrics and spending. This bill directly affects state agencies managing behavioral health programs and the residents accessing these services.