Committee passes bill to require an annual mental-health screener in primary care visits

Minority Leader Kurt presented Senate Bill 1836, which would require a brief, board-approved mental-health screener to be used in routine primary-care visits no more than once per year. The author said children are already subject to screening requirements and the bill would extend a brief screening for adults as a routine preventive step.

Committee members pressed whether the measure mandates particular professionals (physicians, PAs), whether it would require additional provider time, and whether the mandate is funded. The author said the requirement would apply to primary-care providers and that many practices use electronic screeners or front-end processes that would limit additional provider time. He said insurers are expected to reimburse for the activity and noted a fiscal-impact document released recently with an estimated range (read aloud on the floor) that the committee characterized while asking the author to gather additional fiscal detail before floor action.

After brief debate and supportive remarks emphasizing mental health as part of physical health, the committee recorded a roll-call vote of 8 ayes and 4 nays and declared the bill passed.