SF 3904

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 03/05/2020 08:20am

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.

new text begin [145.9273] COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) The definitions in this subdivision apply to this section.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of health.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Community mental health program" means a mental health provider, center, clinic,
or entity that:
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new text begin (1) is listed in section 256B.763 as eligible for a rate increase under that section;
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new text begin (2) is operating in Minnesota;
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new text begin (3) demonstrates to the commissioner that at least 60 percent of the community mental
health program's clients meet one of the following requirements:
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new text begin (i) are uninsured; or
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new text begin (ii) are enrolled in medical assistance or MinnesotaCare; and
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new text begin (4) are not receiving a grant under United States Code, title 42, section 254b.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Application. new text end

new text begin 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.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Allocation of subsidies. new text end

new text begin 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.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Report to commissioner. new text end

new text begin 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.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM
SUBSIDIES.
new text end

new text begin $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.
new text end