SF 2806

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 02/11/2022 08:28am

A bill for an act
relating to behavioral health; establishing a temporary program to facilitate youth
mental health services; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin TEMPORARY YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAM.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin For purposes of this section the following terms have the
meanings given:
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new text begin (1) "commissioner" means the commissioner of human services;
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new text begin (2) "portal" means the website or web-based application described in subdivision 3 that
facilitates the program;
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new text begin (3) "program" means the temporary youth mental health services program established
in this section;
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new text begin (4) "provider" means:
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new text begin (i) a health care professional who is licensed under Minnesota Statutes, chapters 147,
147A, 148B, 148E, and 148F, and Minnesota Statutes, sections 148.171 to 148.2841, and
148.88 to 148.981;
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new text begin (ii) a mental health practitioner as defined under Minnesota Statutes, section 245.462,
subdivision 17, or 245.4871, subdivision 26; or
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new text begin (iii) a mental health professional as defined under Minnesota Statutes, section 245.462,
subdivision 18, or 245.4871, subdivision 27;
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new text begin (5) "telehealth" has the same meaning as provided under Minnesota Statutes, section
62A.673, subdivision 2, paragraph (h), except that for this program, telehealth includes
audio-only communication; and
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new text begin (6) "youth" means:
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new text begin (i) an individual who is 18 years of age or younger; and
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new text begin (ii) an individual who is 21 years of age or younger but older than 18 years of age and
who is receiving special education services pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, chapter 125A.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Commissioner duties. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner shall establish a temporary youth
mental health services program to facilitate access to mental health services, including
substance use disorder services, and to respond to mental health needs identified in an initial
mental health screening through the portal, including those needs that may have resulted
from the COVID-19 pandemic.
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new text begin (b) The commissioner shall:
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new text begin (1) develop a process consistent with the requirements of this section for providers to
apply for, and demonstrate eligibility in order to receive, reimbursement for the program;
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new text begin (2) determine a reasonable rate of reimbursement for each mental health session with a
youth client pursuant to the program that is in accordance with subdivision 4; and
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new text begin (3) implement a statewide public awareness and outreach campaign about the program
that involves schools, youth organizations, health care providers, faith-based organizations,
and other community-based organizations that interact with youths at the local level in
disseminating information about the program.
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new text begin (c) As soon as practicable, but no later than September 1, 2022, the commissioner shall
enter into an agreement with a vendor to create a portal or use an existing website or
web-based application as a portal that is available to youths and providers in order to facilitate
the program. The selection of a vendor pursuant to this paragraph is exempt from the
procurement requirements in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 16C.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Portal requirements. new text end

new text begin The portal must:
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new text begin (1) serve as a platform for initial age-appropriate mental health screenings to determine
if a youth may benefit from mental health support;
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new text begin (2) allow providers to register and share in-person or telehealth appointment availability;
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new text begin (3) when practicable, connect each youth with providers who accept the youth's health
insurance coverage or another payment source that may cover the cost of ongoing mental
health treatment, if the youth has access to health insurance coverage or another payment
source; and
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new text begin (4) allow a youth, regardless of whether the youth has health insurance coverage or
another payment source available, to schedule a telehealth appointment with a provider. An
in-person appointment may be provided if available.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Provider reimbursement; duties. new text end

new text begin (a) To be eligible for reimbursement, a
provider must be available to provide at least three mental health sessions to each eligible
youth the provider accepts as a client, either through telehealth or in person. The
commissioner shall reimburse providers who participate in the program for each mental
health session provided for up to three sessions with an eligible youth. The rate for each
mental health session shall be determined by the commissioner but must be at least equal
to the fee-for-service medical assistance rate for the same or similar mental health service.
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new text begin (b) Each provider must maintain client confidentiality pursuant to state and federal law
with regard to a youth client who participates in a mental health session with the provider
pursuant to the program.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin (a) By October 1, 2024, the commissioner shall report the following
information to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with
jurisdiction over health and human services policy and finance:
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new text begin (1) the number of youths who received services under the program;
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new text begin (2) the services, in aggregate, provided to youths under the program;
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new text begin (3) the average number of sessions that were provided to each youth;
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new text begin (4) the number of providers who participated in the program;
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new text begin (5) how many sessions were provided through telehealth and how many sessions were
provided in person; and
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new text begin (6) any other relevant information regarding the program.
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new text begin (b) The report shall not include any personally identifiable information in accordance
with state and federal law.
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new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Sunset. new text end

new text begin This section expires June 30, 2024.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of
human services to establish and implement the temporary youth mental health services
program.
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