1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to human services; expanding medical 
  1.3             assistance to cover intensive early intervention 
  1.4             behavior therapy for children with autistic spectrum 
  1.5             disorders; creating autism case management pilot 
  1.6             project; amending Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 
  1.7             256B.0625, by adding a subdivision.  
  1.8   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.9      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 256B.0625, is 
  1.10  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  1.11     Subd. 5a.  [HOME-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.] (a) Medical 
  1.12  assistance covers home-based intensive early intervention 
  1.13  behavior therapy for children with autistic spectrum disorders.  
  1.14  Prior authorization shall be required for services provided 
  1.15  after 1,430 hours of therapy. 
  1.16     (b) The commissioner shall adopt rules establishing:  
  1.17     (1) provider qualifications; 
  1.18     (2) supervision requirements; and 
  1.19     (3) prior authorization requirements. 
  1.20     The rules must be consistent with scientifically tested 
  1.21  guidelines established for the treatment of autistic spectrum 
  1.22  disorders. 
  1.23     Sec. 2.  [AUTISM CASE MANAGEMENT PILOT PROJECT.] 
  1.24     (a) The commissioner of human services shall develop a 
  1.25  pilot project to assist parents of children with autistic 
  1.26  spectrum disorder in utilizing available services.  The project 
  2.1   shall provide case management services, including, but not 
  2.2   limited to: 
  2.3      (1) identifying services based on assessed needs, 
  2.4   preferences, and available resources; 
  2.5      (2) coordinating services available through medical 
  2.6   assistance, the school district, private health coverage, and 
  2.7   waivered programs; 
  2.8      (3) assisting families in identifying potential providers 
  2.9   and accessing available services; and 
  2.10     (4) monitoring the needs of the families and the services 
  2.11  being provided.  
  2.12     (b) The commissioner shall seek any federal waivers 
  2.13  necessary, to the extent allowed by law, to secure federal 
  2.14  participation for the provision of case management services for 
  2.15  children with autistic spectrum disorder.  
  2.16     (c) The commissioner shall evaluate the effectiveness of 
  2.17  the project and report to the legislature by January 15, 2004.  
  2.18     (d) This project shall expire June 30, 2004. 
  2.19     Sec. 3.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.20     Section 1 is effective July 1, 2002.