(a) The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall, within available appropriations, operate a behavioral health recovery program to provide clinical substance abuse treatment, psychiatric treatment and nonclinical recovery support services, which are not covered under the Medicaid program, for individuals with substance use disorders or psychiatric disabilities who are eligible for Medicaid pursuant to Sections 1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(VIII) and 1902(k)(2) of the Social Security Act. Services provided under the program may include, but shall not be limited to, residential substance abuse treatment, recovery support services, peer supports, housing assistance, transportation, food, clothing and personal care items. The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall be responsible for all services and payments related to the provision of the behavioral health recovery support services for eligible recipients.

(b) The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, for purposes of implementing the provisions of this section. The commissioner may implement policies and procedures to implement the provisions of this section while in the process of adopting such policies or procedures in regulation form, provided the commissioner prints notice of the intent to adopt regulations in the Connecticut Law Journal not later than twenty days prior to implementing such policies and procedures. Policies and procedures implemented pursuant to this subsection shall be valid until the time final regulations are adopted.