HF 4035

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 03/02/2020 02:04pm

A bill for an act
relating to health; authorizing the commissioner of health to distribute subsidies
for community mental health programs; appropriating money; proposing coding
for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 145.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

[145.9273] COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS.

Subdivision 1.

Definitions.

(a) The definitions in this subdivision apply to this section.

(b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of health.

(c) "Community mental health program" means a mental health provider, center, clinic,
or entity that:

(1) is listed in section 256B.763 as eligible for a rate increase under that section;

(2) is operating in Minnesota;

(3) demonstrates to the commissioner that at least 60 percent of the community mental
health program's clients meet one of the following requirements:

(i) are uninsured; or

(ii) are enrolled in medical assistance or MinnesotaCare; and

(4) are not receiving a grant under United States Code, title 42, section 254b.

Subd. 2.

Application.

A community mental health program seeking a subsidy under
this section must apply to the commissioner according to timelines and in a manner
established by the commissioner. As part of the application, a community mental health
program must report the: (1) total amount of uncompensated care provided by the program
in the most recent calendar year, as reported in the program's most recently audited financial
statement; and (2) percentage of the community mental health program's clients who are
either uninsured or enrolled in medical assistance or MinnesotaCare.

Subd. 3.

Allocation of subsidies.

The commissioner shall distribute subsidies to
community mental health programs to support access to mental health services for
low-income, uninsured, and underinsured populations. The commissioner shall distribute
money appropriated for purposes of this section to community mental health programs
operating in Minnesota as of January 1, 2020. The amount of each subsidy shall be in
proportion to the amount of uncompensated care reported to the commissioner by each
eligible community mental health program, except that each eligible program shall receive
at least two percent but no more than ten percent of the total amount of money available
for purposes of this section.

Subd. 4.

Report to commissioner.

A community mental health program that receives
a subsidy under this section must report to the commissioner on the program's use of the
subsidy. The commissioner must establish a format, timelines, and required data elements
for reports from programs, and must use the reports to analyze the impact of the subsidies
on access to mental health services for low-income, uninsured, and underinsured populations.

Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM
SUBSIDIES.

$5,000,000 in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of health for subsidies to community mental health programs under Minnesota Statutes,
section 145.9273.