Recreational Therapy Program Amendments
SB 158 expands Medicaid reimbursement eligibility to include licensed residential support programs accredited by the American Camp Association, directly affecting Medicaid beneficiaries receiving recreational therapy services in these facilities. The bill adds this program type to the existing list of covered settings (like hospitals and skilled nursing facilities) where qualified enrollees - those enrolled in Medicaid and referred by a mental health therapist - can access reimbursed services. It authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services to seek necessary federal waivers to implement this change, with no new state funding required. The policy takes effect May 6, 2026, and focuses solely on expanding coverage eligibility without altering service criteria or beneficiary requirements.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Mar 2026
Introduced Jan 20, 2026
Signed Mar 18, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Introduced
→
Enrolled
·
3 edits
·
Mar 18, 2026
MINOR
This bill expands Medicaid reimbursement for recreational therapy services by adding licensed residential support programs accredited by the American Camp Association to the list of eligible facilities. The amendment also clarifies the definition of 'behavioral health programs' to align with current state mental health laws and corrects a numbering error in the list of eligible facility types. These changes ensure that residents in accredited residential support settings can access covered therapy services, broadening the network of care available to Medicaid enrollees.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of eligible facilities for recreational therapy reimbursement to include licensed residential support programs accredited by the American Camp Association.
SCOPE
Added 'licensed residential support program that is accredited by the American Camp Association' to the list of facilities eligible for Medicaid reimbursement for recreational therapy.
DEFINITION
Updated the definition of 'behavioral health program' to reference the correct Title and Chapter for the Substance Use and Mental Health Act.
TECHNICAL
Corrected a numbering error in the list of eligible facilities by renumbering items to ensure the new facility type is properly included in the sequence.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 10, 2026 · House Mar 5, 2026
How they voted
26–0
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 29
Feb 10, 2026
D
Democratic6
100% Yea
N
Forward1
100% Yea
R
Republican22
86% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
41
Key actions
10
Committee
7
Mar 18, 2026
Signed into law
Governor Signed
executive
Mar 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling
upper
Mar 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
House/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate
upper
Mar 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
House/ passed 3rd reading
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
House/ return to Rules due to fiscal impact [House Rules Committee]
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
House/ committee report favorable [House Health and Human Services Committee]
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Health and Human Services Committee]
lower
Feb 23, 2026
Committee
House/ to standing committee [House Health and Human Services Committee]
lower
Feb 17, 2026
Introduced
House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
lower
Feb 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
Senate/ passed 3rd reading
lower
Jan 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate/ committee report favorable [Senate Health and Human Services Committee]
upper
Jan 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Health and Human Services Committee]
upper
Jan 21, 2026
Committee
Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Health and Human Services Committee]
upper
Jan 20, 2026
Introduced
Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
upper
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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