HF 1062

1st Engrossment - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/25/2015 01:57pm

A bill for an act
relating to human services; modifying health plan requirements to add mental
health crisis services to emergency services; requiring recommendations on
funding children's mental health crisis residential services; appropriating money;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, sections 62Q.55, subdivision 3; 62Q.81,
subdivision 4.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 62Q.55, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Emergency services.

As used in this section, "emergency services" means,
with respect to an emergency medical condition:

(1) a medical screening examination, as required under section 1867 of the Social
Security Act, that is within the capability of the emergency department of a hospital,
including ancillary services routinely available to the emergency department to evaluate
such emergency medical condition; deleted text begin and
deleted text end

(2) within the capabilities of the staff and facilities available at the hospital, such
further medical examination and treatment as are required under section 1867 of the Social
Security Act to stabilize the patient new text begin ; and
new text end

new text begin (3) mental health crisis services new text end .

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 62Q.81, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Essential health benefits; definition.

For purposes of this section,
"essential health benefits" has the meaning given under section 1302(b) of the Affordable
Care Act and includes:

(1) ambulatory patient services;

(2) emergency services new text begin , including mental health crisis services new text end ;

(3) hospitalization;

(4) laboratory services;

(5) maternity and newborn care;

(6) mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health
treatment;

(7) pediatric services, including oral and vision care;

(8) prescription drugs;

(9) preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management;

(10) rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices; and

(11) additional essential health benefits included in the EHB-benchmark plan, as
defined under the Affordable Care Act.

Sec. 3. new text begin INSTRUCTIONS TO THE COMMISSIONER.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner of human services shall, in consultation with stakeholders, develop
recommendations on funding for children's mental health crisis residential services that will
allow for timely access without requiring county authorization or child welfare placement.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $3,500,000 in fiscal year 2016 and $4,500,000 in fiscal year 2017 are appropriated
from the general fund to the commissioner of human services to increase access to mental
health crisis services for children and adults. Funding must be used to:
new text end

new text begin (1) develop a central phone number where calls can be routed to the appropriate
crisis services;
new text end

new text begin (2) provide telephone consultation 24 hours a day to mobile crisis teams who are
serving people with traumatic brain injury or intellectual disabilities who are experiencing
a mental health crisis;
new text end

new text begin (3) expand crisis services across the state, including rural areas of the state and
examining access per population;
new text end

new text begin (4) establish and implement state standards for crisis services; and
new text end

new text begin (5) provide grants to adult mental health initiatives, counties, tribes, or community
mental health providers to establish new mental health crisis residential service capacity.
Priority will be given to regions that do not have a mental health crisis residential services
program, do not have an inpatient psychiatric unit within the region, do not have an
inpatient psychiatric unit within 90 miles, or have a demonstrated need based on the
number of crisis residential or intensive residential treatment beds available to meet the
needs of the residents in the region. At least 50 percent of the funds must be distributed to
programs in rural Minnesota. Grant funds may be used for start-up costs, including but not
limited to renovations, furnishings, and staff training. Grant applications shall provide
details on how the intended service will address identified needs and shall demonstrate
collaboration with crisis teams, other mental health providers, hospitals, and police.
new text end