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Key: (1) language to be deleted (2) new language

CHAPTER 163--S.F.No. 2414

An act

relating to human services; modifying the office of ombudsman for long-term care, chemical and mental health treatment services, and miscellaneous policy provisions; establishing the Minnesota Eligibility System Executive Steering Committee;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, sections 62V.11, by adding a subdivision; 148.975, subdivision 1; 148B.1751; 148F.13, subdivision 2; 245.462, subdivision 18; 245.4871, subdivision 27; 245A.11, subdivision 2a; 256.974; 256.9741, subdivision 5, by adding subdivisions; 256.9742; 256B.0615, subdivisions 1, 2; 256B.0622, as amended; 256B.0751, subdivision 3; 256B.0947, subdivision 2; Minnesota Statutes 2015 Supplement, sections 62V.03, subdivision 2; 125A.08; 256.01, subdivision 12a; 256B.0911, subdivision 3a; 256B.766; 256I.04, subdivision 2a; 402A.18, subdivision 3; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 62V.

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

ARTICLE 1

OMBUDSMAN FOR LONG-TERM CARE

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 256.974, is amended to read:

256.974 OFFICE OF OMBUDSMAN FOR LONG-TERM CAREdeleted text begin ; LOCAL PROGRAMSdeleted text end .

The ombudsman for long-term care serves in the classified service under section 256.01, subdivision 7, in an office within the Minnesota Board on Aging that incorporates the long-term care ombudsman program required by the Older Americans Act, as amended, United States Code, title 42, deleted text begin sectiondeleted text end new text begin sectionsnew text end 3027(a)(9) and 3058g(a), and deleted text begin established within the Minnesota Board on Aging. The Minnesota Board on Aging may make grants to and designate local programs for the provision of ombudsman services to clients in county or multicounty areas. The local programdeleted text end new text begin Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, parts 1321 and 1327. The office shall be a distinct entity, separately identifiable from other state agencies andnew text end may not be an agency engaged in the provision of nursing home care, hospital care, or home care services either directly or by contract, or have the responsibility for planning, coordinating, funding, or administering nursing home care, hospital care, or home care services.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 256.9741, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Office.

"Office" means the deleted text begin office of ombudsmandeleted text end new text begin organizational unitnew text end established within the Minnesota Board on Aging deleted text begin or local ombudsman programs that the Board on Aging designates.deleted text end new text begin headed by the state long-term care ombudsman.new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 256.9741, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Representatives of the office. new text end

new text begin "Representatives of the office" means employees of the office, as well as employees designated as regional ombudsman and volunteers designated as certified ombudsman volunteers by the state long-term care ombudsman. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 256.9741, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin State long-term care ombudsman. new text end

new text begin "State long-term care ombudsman" or "ombudsman" means the individual serving on a full-time basis and who in the individual's official capacity, or through representatives of the office, is responsible to fulfill the functions, responsibilities, and duties set forth in section 256.9742. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 256.9742, is amended to read:

256.9742 DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE OFFICE.

Subdivision 1.

Duties.

The deleted text begin ombudsman's programdeleted text end new text begin officenew text end shall:

(1) gather information and evaluate any act, practice, policy, procedure, or administrative action of a long-term care facility, acute care facility, home care service provider, or government agency that may adversely affect the health, safety, welfare, or rights of any client;

(2) mediate or advocate on behalf of clients;

(3) monitor the development and implementation of federal, state, or local laws, rules, regulations, and policies affecting the rights and benefits of clients;

(4) comment on and recommend to public and private agencies regarding laws, rules, regulations, and policies affecting clients;

(5) inform public agencies about the problems of clients;

(6) provide for training of volunteers and promote the development of citizen participation in the work of the office;

(7) conduct public forums to obtain information about and publicize issues affecting clients;

(8) provide public education regarding the health, safety, welfare, and rights of clients; and

(9) collect and analyze data relating to complaints, conditions, and services.

Subd. 1a.

Designationdeleted text begin ; local ombudsman staff and volunteersdeleted text end new text begin of representatives of the officenew text end .

(a) In designating deleted text begin an individualdeleted text end new text begin a representative of the officenew text end to perform duties under this section, the ombudsman must determine that the individual is qualified to perform the duties required by this section.

(b) deleted text begin An individual designated as ombudsman staff under this sectiondeleted text end new text begin A representative of the office designated as a regional ombudsmannew text end must successfully complete an orientation training conducted under the direction of the ombudsman or approved by the ombudsman. Orientation training shall be at least 20 hours and will consist of training in: investigation, dispute resolution, health care regulation, confidentiality, resident and patients' rights, and health care reimbursement.

(c) The ombudsman shall develop and implement a continuing education program for deleted text begin individualsdeleted text end new text begin representatives of the officenew text end designated as deleted text begin ombudsman staffdeleted text end new text begin regional ombudsmen new text end under this sectiondeleted text begin . The continuing education program shall bedeleted text end new text begin , who shall completenew text end at least 60 hours annually.

(d) deleted text begin An individualdeleted text end new text begin A representative of the officenew text end designated as deleted text begin an ombudsmandeleted text end new text begin a certified ombudsmannew text end volunteer under this section must successfully complete an approved orientation training course with a minimum curriculum including federal and state bills of rights for long-term care residents, acute hospital patients and home care clients, the Vulnerable Adults Act, confidentiality, and the role of the ombudsman.

(e) The ombudsman shall develop and implement a continuing education program for new text begin certified new text end ombudsman volunteers deleted text begin which will providedeleted text end new text begin , who shall completenew text end a minimum of 12 hours of continuing education per year.

(f) The ombudsman may withdraw deleted text begin an individual'sdeleted text end new text begin a representative'snew text end designation if the deleted text begin individualdeleted text end new text begin representativenew text end fails to perform duties of this section or meet continuing education requirements. The deleted text begin individualdeleted text end new text begin representative new text end may request a reconsideration of such action by the Board on Aging deleted text begin whose decisiondeleted text end new text begin , but any further decision of the state ombudsman about designationnew text end shall be final.

Subd. 2.

Immunity from liability.

The ombudsman deleted text begin or designee including staff and volunteers under this section isdeleted text end new text begin and representatives of the office are new text end immune from civil liability that otherwise might result from the person's actions or omissions if the person's actions are in good faith, are within the scope of the person's responsibilities as an ombudsman or designee, and do not constitute willful or reckless misconduct.

Subd. 3.

Posting.

Every long-term care facility and acute care facility shall post in a conspicuous place the address and telephone number of the office. A home care service provider shall provide all recipients, including those in housing with services under chapter 144D, with the address and telephone number of the office. Counties shall provide clients receiving long-term care consultation services under section 256B.0911 or home and community-based services through a state or federally funded program with the name, address, and telephone number of the office. The posting or notice is subject to approval by the ombudsman.

Subd. 4.

Access to long-term care and acute care facilities and clients.

The ombudsman or designee may:

(1) enter any long-term care facility without notice at any time;

(2) enter any acute care facility without notice during normal business hours;

(3) enter any acute care facility without notice at any time to interview a patient or observe services being provided to the patient as part of an investigation of a matter that is within the scope of the ombudsman's authority, but only if the ombudsman's or designee's presence does not intrude upon the privacy of another patient or interfere with routine hospital services provided to any patient in the facility;

(4) communicate privately and without restriction with any client, as long as the ombudsman has the client's consent for such communication;

(5) inspect records of a long-term care facility, home care service provider, or acute care facility that pertain to the care of the client according to sections 144.291 to 144.298; and

(6) with the consent of a client or client's legal guardian, the ombudsman or designated staff shall have access to review records pertaining to the care of the client according to sections 144.291 to 144.298. If a client cannot consent and has no legal guardian, access to the records is authorized by this section.

A person who denies access to the ombudsman or designee in violation of this subdivision or aids, abets, invites, compels, or coerces another to do so is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Subd. 5.

Access to state records.

The ombudsman or designee, excluding volunteers, has access to data of a state agency necessary for the discharge of the ombudsman's duties, including records classified confidential or private under chapter 13, or any other law. The data requested must be related to a specific case and is subject to section 13.03, subdivision 4. If the data concerns an individual, the ombudsman or designee shall first obtain the individual's consent. If the individual cannot consent and has no legal guardian, then access to the data is authorized by this section.

Each state agency responsible for licensing, regulating, and enforcing state and federal laws and regulations concerning long-term care, home care service providers, and acute care facilities shall forward to the ombudsman on a quarterly basis, copies of all correction orders, penalty assessments, and complaint investigation reports, for all long-term care facilities, acute care facilities, and home care service providers.

Subd. 6.

Prohibition against discrimination or retaliation.

(a) No entity shall take discriminatory, disciplinary, or retaliatory action against deleted text begin an employee or volunteerdeleted text end new text begin the ombudsman, representative of the officenew text end , or a deleted text begin patient, residentdeleted text end new text begin clientnew text end , or guardian or family member of a deleted text begin patient, resident, or guardiandeleted text end new text begin client,new text end for filing in good faith a complaint with or providing information to the ombudsman or deleted text begin designee including volunteers deleted text end new text begin representative of the officenew text end . A person who violates this subdivision or who aids, abets, invites, compels, or coerces another to do so is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(b) There shall be a rebuttable presumption that any adverse action, as defined below, within 90 days of report, is discriminatory, disciplinary, or retaliatory. For the purpose of this clause, the term "adverse action" refers to action taken by the entity involved in a report against the person making the report or the person with respect to whom the report was made because of the report, and includes, but is not limited to:

(1) discharge or transfer from a facility;

(2) termination of service;

(3) restriction or prohibition of access to the facility or its residents;

(4) discharge from or termination of employment;

(5) demotion or reduction in remuneration for services; and

(6) any restriction of rights set forth in section 144.651, 144A.44, or 144A.751.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

ARTICLE 2

CHEMICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 245.462, subdivision 18, is amended to read:

Subd. 18.

Mental health professional.

"Mental health professional" means a person providing clinical services in the treatment of mental illness who is qualified in at least one of the following ways:

(1) in psychiatric nursing: a registered nurse who is licensed under sections 148.171 to 148.285; and:

(i) who is certified as a clinical specialist or as a nurse practitioner in adult or family psychiatric and mental health nursing by a national nurse certification organization; or

(ii) who has a master's degree in nursing or one of the behavioral sciences or related fields from an accredited college or university or its equivalent, with at least 4,000 hours of post-master's supervised experience in the delivery of clinical services in the treatment of mental illness;

(2) in clinical social work: a person licensed as an independent clinical social worker under chapter 148D, or a person with a master's degree in social work from an accredited college or university, with at least 4,000 hours of post-master's supervised experience in the delivery of clinical services in the treatment of mental illness;

(3) in psychology: an individual licensed by the Board of Psychology under sections 148.88 to 148.98 who has stated to the Board of Psychology competencies in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness;

(4) in psychiatry: a physician licensed under chapter 147 and certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology or eligible for board certification in psychiatrynew text begin , or an osteopathic physician licensed under chapter 147 and certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry or eligible for board certification in psychiatrynew text end ;

(5) in marriage and family therapy: the mental health professional must be a marriage and family therapist licensed under sections 148B.29 to 148B.39 with at least two years of post-master's supervised experience in the delivery of clinical services in the treatment of mental illness;

(6) in licensed professional clinical counseling, the mental health professional shall be a licensed professional clinical counselor under section 148B.5301 with at least 4,000 hours of post-master's supervised experience in the delivery of clinical services in the treatment of mental illness; or

(7) in allied fields: a person with a master's degree from an accredited college or university in one of the behavioral sciences or related fields, with at least 4,000 hours of post-master's supervised experience in the delivery of clinical services in the treatment of mental illness.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 245.4871, subdivision 27, is amended to read:

Subd. 27.

Mental health professional.

"Mental health professional" means a person providing clinical services in the diagnosis and treatment of children's emotional disorders. A mental health professional must have training and experience in working with children consistent with the age group to which the mental health professional is assigned. A mental health professional must be qualified in at least one of the following ways:

(1) in psychiatric nursing, the mental health professional must be a registered nurse who is licensed under sections 148.171 to 148.285 and who is certified as a clinical specialist in child and adolescent psychiatric or mental health nursing by a national nurse certification organization or who has a master's degree in nursing or one of the behavioral sciences or related fields from an accredited college or university or its equivalent, with at least 4,000 hours of post-master's supervised experience in the delivery of clinical services in the treatment of mental illness;

(2) in clinical social work, the mental health professional must be a person licensed as an independent clinical social worker under chapter 148D, or a person with a master's degree in social work from an accredited college or university, with at least 4,000 hours of post-master's supervised experience in the delivery of clinical services in the treatment of mental disorders;

(3) in psychology, the mental health professional must be an individual licensed by the board of psychology under sections 148.88 to 148.98 who has stated to the board of psychology competencies in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders;

(4) in psychiatry, the mental health professional must be a physician licensed under chapter 147 and certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology or eligible for board certification in psychiatrynew text begin or an osteopathic physician licensed under chapter 147 and certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry or eligible for board certification in psychiatrynew text end ;

(5) in marriage and family therapy, the mental health professional must be a marriage and family therapist licensed under sections 148B.29 to 148B.39 with at least two years of post-master's supervised experience in the delivery of clinical services in the treatment of mental disorders or emotional disturbances;

(6) in licensed professional clinical counseling, the mental health professional shall be a licensed professional clinical counselor under section 148B.5301 with at least 4,000 hours of post-master's supervised experience in the delivery of clinical services in the treatment of mental disorders or emotional disturbances; or

(7) in allied fields, the mental health professional must be a person with a master's degree from an accredited college or university in one of the behavioral sciences or related fields, with at least 4,000 hours of post-master's supervised experience in the delivery of clinical services in the treatment of emotional disturbances.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 256B.0615, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Scope.

Medical assistance covers mental health certified deleted text begin peers specialistsdeleted text end new text begin peer specialist new text end services, as established in subdivision 2, subject to federal approval, if provided to recipients who are eligible for services under sections 256B.0622, 256B.0623, and 256B.0624 and are provided by a certified peer specialist who has completed the training under subdivision 5.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 256B.0615, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Establishment.

The commissioner of human services shall establish a certified peer deleted text begin specialistsdeleted text end new text begin specialistnew text end program model, which:

(1) provides nonclinical peer support counseling by certified peer specialists;

(2) provides a part of a wraparound continuum of services in conjunction with other community mental health services;

(3) is individualized to the consumer; and

(4) promotes socialization, recovery, self-sufficiency, self-advocacy, development of natural supports, and maintenance of skills learned in other support services.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 256B.0622, as amended by Laws 2015, chapter 71, article 2, sections 23 to 32, is amended to read:

256B.0622 deleted text begin INTENSIVE REHABILITATIVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES deleted text end new text begin ASSERTIVE COMMUNITY TREATMENT AND INTENSIVE RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT SERVICESnew text end .

Subdivision 1.

Scope.

Subject to federal approval, medical assistance covers medically necessary, assertive community treatmentnew text begin for clients as defined in subdivision 2anew text end and intensive residential treatment services deleted text begin as defined in subdivision 2,deleted text end for deleted text begin recipients deleted text end new text begin clientsnew text end as defined in subdivision 3, when the services are provided by an entity meeting the standards in this section.

Subd. 2.

Definitions.

new text begin (a) new text end For purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given them.

new text begin (b) "ACT team" means the group of interdisciplinary mental health staff who work as a team to provide assertive community treatment. new text end

deleted text begin (a)deleted text end new text begin (c)new text end "Assertive community treatment" means intensive nonresidential new text begin treatment and new text end rehabilitative mental health services provided according to the deleted text begin evidence-based practice ofdeleted text end assertive community treatmentnew text begin model. Assertive community treatment provides a single, fixed point of responsibility for treatment, rehabilitation, and support needs for clients. Services are offered 24 hours per day, seven days per week, in a community-based settingnew text end . deleted text begin Core elements of this service include, but are not limited to:deleted text end

deleted text begin (1) a multidisciplinary staff who utilize a total team approach and who serve as a fixed point of responsibility for all service delivery; deleted text end

deleted text begin (2) providing services 24 hours per day and seven days per week; deleted text end

deleted text begin (3) providing the majority of services in a community setting; deleted text end

deleted text begin (4) offering a low ratio of recipients to staff; and deleted text end

deleted text begin (5) providing service that is not time-limited. deleted text end

new text begin (d) "Individual treatment plan" means the document that results from a person-centered planning process of determining real-life outcomes with clients and developing strategies to achieve those outcomes. new text end

new text begin (e) "Assertive engagement" means the use of collaborative strategies to engage clients to receive services. new text end

new text begin (f) "Benefits and finance support" means assisting clients in capably managing financial affairs. Services include, but are not limited to, assisting clients in applying for benefits; assisting with redetermination of benefits; providing financial crisis management; teaching and supporting budgeting skills and asset development; and coordinating with a client's representative payee, if applicable. new text end

new text begin (g) "Co-occurring disorder treatment" means the treatment of co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders and is characterized by assertive outreach, stage-wise comprehensive treatment, treatment goal setting, and flexibility to work within each stage of treatment. Services include, but are not limited to, assessing and tracking clients' stages of change readiness and treatment; applying the appropriate treatment based on stages of change, such as outreach and motivational interviewing techniques to work with clients in earlier stages of change readiness and cognitive behavioral approaches and relapse prevention to work with clients in later stages of change; and facilitating access to community supports. new text end

new text begin (h) "Crisis assessment and intervention" means mental health crisis response services as defined in section 256B.0624, subdivision 2, paragraphs (c) to (e). new text end

new text begin (i) "Employment services" means assisting clients to work at jobs of their choosing. Services must follow the principles of the individual placement and support (IPS) employment model, including focusing on competitive employment; emphasizing individual client preferences and strengths; ensuring employment services are integrated with mental health services; conducting rapid job searches and systematic job development according to client preferences and choices; providing benefits counseling; and offering all services in an individualized and time-unlimited manner. Services shall also include educating clients about opportunities and benefits of work and school and assisting the client in learning job skills, navigating the work place, and managing work relationships. new text end

new text begin (j) "Family psychoeducation and support" means services provided to the client's family and other natural supports to restore and strengthen the client's unique social and family relationships. Services include, but are not limited to, individualized psychoeducation about the client's illness and the role of the family and other significant people in the therapeutic process; family intervention to restore contact, resolve conflict, and maintain relationships with family and other significant people in the client's life; ongoing communication and collaboration between the ACT team and the family; introduction and referral to family self-help programs and advocacy organizations that promote recovery and family engagement, individual supportive counseling, parenting training, and service coordination to help clients fulfill parenting responsibilities; coordinating services for the child and restoring relationships with children who are not in the client's custody; and coordinating with child welfare and family agencies, if applicable. These services must be provided with the client's agreement and consent. new text end

new text begin (k) "Housing access support" means assisting clients to find, obtain, retain, and move to safe and adequate housing of their choice. Housing access support includes, but is not limited to, locating housing options with a focus on integrated independent settings; applying for housing subsidies, programs, or resources; assisting the client in developing relationships with local landlords; providing tenancy support and advocacy for the individual's tenancy rights at the client's home; and assisting with relocation. new text end

new text begin (l) "Individual treatment team" means a minimum of three members of the ACT team who are responsible for consistently carrying out most of a client's assertive community treatment services. new text end

new text begin (m) "Intensive residential treatment services treatment team" means all staff who provide intensive residential treatment services under this section to clients. At a minimum, this includes the clinical supervisor, mental health professionals as defined in section 245.462, subdivision 18, clauses (1) to (6); mental health practitioners as defined in section 245.462, subdivision 17; mental health rehabilitation workers under section 256B.0623, subdivision 5, clause (4); and mental health certified peer specialists under section 256B.0615. new text end

deleted text begin (b)deleted text end new text begin (n)new text end "Intensive residential treatment services" means short-term, time-limited services provided in a residential setting to deleted text begin recipientsdeleted text end new text begin clientsnew text end who are in need of more restrictive settings and are at risk of significant functional deterioration if they do not receive these services. Services are designed to develop and enhance psychiatric stability, personal and emotional adjustment, self-sufficiency, and skills to live in a more independent setting. Services must be directed toward a targeted discharge date with specified client outcomes.

deleted text begin (c) "Evidence-based practices" are nationally recognized mental health services that are proven by substantial research to be effective in helping individuals with serious mental illness obtain specific treatment goals. deleted text end

new text begin (o) "Medication assistance and support" means assisting clients in accessing medication, developing the ability to take medications with greater independence, and providing medication setup. This includes the prescription, administration, and order of medication by appropriate medical staff. new text end

new text begin (p) "Medication education" means educating clients on the role and effects of medications in treating symptoms of mental illness and the side effects of medications. new text end

deleted text begin (d)deleted text end new text begin (q)new text end "Overnight staff" means a member of the intensive residential deleted text begin rehabilitative mental healthdeleted text end treatment new text begin services new text end team who is responsible during hours when deleted text begin recipients deleted text end new text begin clientsnew text end are typically asleep.

deleted text begin (e) "Treatment team" means all staff who provide services under this section to recipients. At a minimum, this includes the clinical supervisor, mental health professionals as defined in section 245.462, subdivision 18, clauses (1) to (6); mental health practitioners as defined in section 245.462, subdivision 17; mental health rehabilitation workers under section 256B.0623, subdivision 5, clause (3); and certified peer specialists under section 256B.0615. deleted text end

new text begin (r) "Mental health certified peer specialist services" has the meaning given in section 256B.0615. new text end

new text begin (s) "Physical health services" means any service or treatment to meet the physical health needs of the client to support the client's mental health recovery. Services include, but are not limited to, education on primary health issues, including wellness education; medication administration and monitoring; providing and coordinating medical screening and follow-up; scheduling routine and acute medical and dental care visits; tobacco cessation strategies; assisting clients in attending appointments; communicating with other providers; and integrating all physical and mental health treatment. new text end

new text begin (t) "Primary team member" means the person who leads and coordinates the activities of the individual treatment team and is the individual treatment team member who has primary responsibility for establishing and maintaining a therapeutic relationship with the client on a continuing basis. new text end

new text begin (u) "Rehabilitative mental health services" means mental health services that are rehabilitative and enable the client to develop and enhance psychiatric stability, social competencies, personal and emotional adjustment, independent living, parenting skills, and community skills, when these abilities are impaired by the symptoms of mental illness. new text end

new text begin (v) "Symptom management" means supporting clients in identifying and targeting the symptoms and occurrence patterns of their mental illness and developing strategies to reduce the impact of those symptoms. new text end

new text begin (w) "Therapeutic interventions" means empirically supported techniques to address specific symptoms and behaviors such as anxiety, psychotic symptoms, emotional dysregulation, and trauma symptoms. Interventions include empirically supported psychotherapies including, but not limited to, cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, interpersonal therapy, and motivational interviewing. new text end

new text begin (x) "Wellness self-management and prevention" means a combination of approaches to working with the client to build and apply skills related to recovery, and to support the client in participating in leisure and recreational activities, civic participation, and meaningful structure. new text end

new text begin Subd. 2a. new text end

new text begin Eligibility for assertive community treatment. new text end

new text begin An eligible client for assertive community treatment is an individual who meets the following criteria as assessed by an ACT team: new text end

new text begin (1) is age 18 or older. Individuals ages 16 and 17 may be eligible upon approval by the commissioner; new text end

new text begin (2) has a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, major depressive disorder with psychotic features, other psychotic disorders, or bipolar disorder. Individuals with other psychiatric illnesses may qualify for assertive community treatment if they have a serious mental illness and meet the criteria outlined in clauses (3) and (4), but no more than ten percent of an ACT team's clients may be eligible based on this criteria. Individuals with a primary diagnosis of a substance use disorder, intellectual developmental disabilities, borderline personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, traumatic brain injury, or an autism spectrum disorder are not eligible for assertive community treatment; new text end

new text begin (3) has significant functional impairment as demonstrated by at least one of the following conditions: new text end

new text begin (i) significant difficulty consistently performing the range of routine tasks required for basic adult functioning in the community or persistent difficulty performing daily living tasks without significant support or assistance; new text end

new text begin (ii) significant difficulty maintaining employment at a self-sustaining level or significant difficulty consistently carrying out the head-of-household responsibilities; or new text end

new text begin (iii) significant difficulty maintaining a safe living situation; new text end

new text begin (4) has a need for continuous high-intensity services as evidenced by at least two of the following: new text end

new text begin (i) two or more psychiatric hospitalizations or residential crisis stabilization services in the previous 12 months; new text end

new text begin (ii) frequent utilization of mental health crisis services in the previous six months; new text end

new text begin (iii) 30 or more consecutive days of psychiatric hospitalization in the previous 24 months; new text end

new text begin (iv) intractable, persistent, or prolonged severe psychiatric symptoms; new text end

new text begin (v) coexisting mental health and substance use disorders lasting at least six months; new text end

new text begin (vi) recent history of involvement with the criminal justice system or demonstrated risk of future involvement; new text end

new text begin (vii) significant difficulty meeting basic survival needs; new text end

new text begin (viii) residing in substandard housing, experiencing homelessness, or facing imminent risk of homelessness; new text end

new text begin (ix) significant impairment with social and interpersonal functioning such that basic needs are in jeopardy; new text end

new text begin (x) coexisting mental health and physical health disorders lasting at least six months; new text end

new text begin (xi) residing in an inpatient or supervised community residence but clinically assessed to be able to live in a more independent living situation if intensive services are provided; new text end

new text begin (xii) requiring a residential placement if more intensive services are not available; or new text end

new text begin (xiii) difficulty effectively using traditional office-based outpatient services; new text end

new text begin (5) there are no indications that other available community-based services would be equally or more effective as evidenced by consistent and extensive efforts to treat the individual; and new text end

new text begin (6) in the written opinion of a licensed mental health professional, has the need for mental health services that cannot be met with other available community-based services, or is likely to experience a mental health crisis or require a more restrictive setting if assertive community treatment is not provided. new text end

new text begin Subd. 2b. new text end

new text begin Continuing stay and discharge criteria for assertive community treatment. new text end

new text begin (a) A client receiving assertive community treatment is eligible to continue receiving services if: new text end

new text begin (1) the client has not achieved the desired outcomes of their individual treatment plan; new text end

new text begin (2) the client's level of functioning has not been restored, improved, or sustained over the time frame outlined in the individual treatment plan; new text end

new text begin (3) the client continues to be at risk for relapse based on current clinical assessment, history, or the tenuous nature of the functional gains; or new text end

new text begin (4) the client is functioning effectively with this service and discharge would otherwise be indicated but without continued services the client's functioning would decline; and new text end

new text begin (5) one of the following must also apply: new text end

new text begin (i) the client has achieved current individual treatment plan goals but additional goals are indicated as evidenced by documented symptoms; new text end

new text begin (ii) the client is making satisfactory progress toward meeting goals and there is documentation that supports that continuation of this service shall be effective in addressing the goals outlined in the individual treatment plan; new text end

new text begin (iii) the client is making progress, but the specific interventions in the individual treatment plan need to be modified so that greater gains, which are consistent with the client's potential level of functioning, are possible; or new text end

new text begin (iv) the client fails to make progress or demonstrates regression in meeting goals through the interventions outlined in the individual treatment plan. new text end

new text begin (b) Clients receiving assertive community treatment are eligible to be discharged if they meet at least one of the following criteria: new text end

new text begin (1) the client and the ACT team determine that assertive community treatment services are no longer needed based on the attainment of goals as identified in the individual treatment plan and a less intensive level of care would adequately address current goals; new text end

new text begin (2) the client moves out of the ACT team's service area and the ACT team has facilitated the referral to either a new ACT team or other appropriate mental health service and has assisted the individual in the transition process; new text end

new text begin (3) the client, or the client's legal guardian when applicable, chooses to withdraw from assertive community treatment services and documented attempts by the ACT team to re-engage the client with the service have not been successful; new text end

new text begin (4) the client has a demonstrated need for a medical nursing home placement lasting more than three months, as determined by a physician; new text end

new text begin (5) the client is hospitalized, in residential treatment, or in jail for a period of greater than three months. However, the ACT team must make provisions for the client to return to the ACT team upon their discharge or release from the hospital or jail if the client still meets eligibility criteria for assertive community treatment and the team is not at full capacity; new text end

new text begin (6) the ACT team is unable to locate, contact, and engage the client for a period of greater than three months after persistent efforts by the ACT team to locate the client; or new text end

new text begin (7) the client requests a discharge, despite repeated and proactive efforts by the ACT team to engage the client in service planning. The ACT team must develop a transition plan to arrange for alternate treatment for clients in this situation who have a history of suicide attempts, assault, or forensic involvement. new text end

new text begin (c) For all clients who are discharged from assertive community treatment to another service provider within the ACT team's service area there is a three-month transfer period, from the date of discharge, during which a client who does not adjust well to the new service, may voluntarily return to the ACT team. During this period, the ACT team must maintain contact with the client's new service provider. new text end

Subd. 3.

Eligibilitynew text begin for intensive residential treatment servicesnew text end .

An eligible deleted text begin recipientdeleted text end new text begin client for intensive residential treatment servicesnew text end is an individual who:

(1) is age 18 or older;

(2) is eligible for medical assistance;

(3) is diagnosed with a mental illness;

(4) because of a mental illness, has substantial disability and functional impairment in three or more of the areas listed in section 245.462, subdivision 11a, so that self-sufficiency is markedly reduced;

(5) has one or more of the following: a history of recurring or prolonged inpatient hospitalizations in the past year, significant independent living instability, homelessness, or very frequent use of mental health and related services yielding poor outcomes; and

(6) in the written opinion of a licensed mental health professional, has the need for mental health services that cannot be met with other available community-based services, or is likely to experience a mental health crisis or require a more restrictive setting if intensive rehabilitative mental health services are not provided.

new text begin Subd. 3a. new text end

new text begin Provider certification and contract requirements for assertive community treatment. new text end

new text begin (a) The assertive community treatment provider must: new text end

new text begin (1) have a contract with the host county to provide assertive community treatment services; and new text end

new text begin (2) have each ACT team be certified by the state following the certification process and procedures developed by the commissioner. The certification process determines whether the ACT team meets the standards for assertive community treatment under this section as well as minimum program fidelity standards as measured by a nationally recognized fidelity tool approved by the commissioner. Recertification must occur at least every three years. new text end

new text begin (b) An ACT team certified under this subdivision must meet the following standards: new text end

new text begin (1) have capacity to recruit, hire, manage, and train required ACT team members; new text end

new text begin (2) have adequate administrative ability to ensure availability of services; new text end

new text begin (3) ensure adequate preservice and ongoing training for staff; new text end

new text begin (4) ensure that staff is capable of implementing culturally specific services that are culturally responsive and appropriate as determined by the client's culture, beliefs, values, and language as identified in the individual treatment plan; new text end

new text begin (5) ensure flexibility in service delivery to respond to the changing and intermittent care needs of a client as identified by the client and the individual treatment plan; new text end

new text begin (6) develop and maintain client files, individual treatment plans, and contact charting; new text end

new text begin (7) develop and maintain staff training and personnel files; new text end

new text begin (8) submit information as required by the state; new text end

new text begin (9) keep all necessary records required by law; new text end

new text begin (10) comply with all applicable laws; new text end

new text begin (11) be an enrolled Medicaid provider; new text end

new text begin (12) establish and maintain a quality assurance plan to determine specific service outcomes and the client's satisfaction with services; and new text end

new text begin (13) develop and maintain written policies and procedures regarding service provision and administration of the provider entity. new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner may intervene at any time and decertify an ACT team with cause. The commissioner shall establish a process for decertification of an ACT team and shall require corrective action, medical assistance repayment, or decertification of an ACT team that no longer meets the requirements in this section or that fails to meet the clinical quality standards or administrative standards provided by the commissioner in the application and certification process. The decertification is subject to appeal to the state. new text end

Subd. 4.

Provider deleted text begin certificationdeleted text end new text begin licensurenew text end and contract requirementsnew text begin for intensive residential treatment servicesnew text end .

deleted text begin (a) The assertive community treatment provider must: deleted text end

deleted text begin (1) have a contract with the host county to provide intensive adult rehabilitative mental health services; and deleted text end

deleted text begin (2) be certified by the commissioner as being in compliance with this section and section 256B.0623. deleted text end

deleted text begin (b)deleted text end new text begin (a)new text end The intensive residential treatment services provider must:

(1) be licensed under Minnesota Rules, parts 9520.0500 to 9520.0670;

(2) not exceed 16 beds per site;

(3) comply with the additional standards in this section; and

(4) have a contract with the host county to provide these services.

deleted text begin (c)deleted text end new text begin (b)new text end The commissioner shall develop procedures for counties and providers to submit contracts and other documentation as needed to allow the commissioner to determine whether the standards in this section are met.

deleted text begin Subd. 5. deleted text end

deleted text begin Standards applicable to both assertive community treatment and residential providers. deleted text end

deleted text begin (a) Services must be provided by qualified staff as defined in section 256B.0623, subdivision 5, who are trained and supervised according to section 256B.0623, subdivision 6, except that mental health rehabilitation workers acting as overnight staff are not required to comply with section 256B.0623, subdivision 5, clause (4), item (iv). deleted text end

deleted text begin (b) The clinical supervisor must be an active member of the treatment team. The treatment team must meet with the clinical supervisor at least weekly to discuss recipients' progress and make rapid adjustments to meet recipients' needs. The team meeting shall include recipient-specific case reviews and general treatment discussions among team members. Recipient-specific case reviews and planning must be documented in the individual recipient's treatment record. deleted text end

deleted text begin (c) Treatment staff must have prompt access in person or by telephone to a mental health practitioner or mental health professional. The provider must have the capacity to promptly and appropriately respond to emergent needs and make any necessary staffing adjustments to assure the health and safety of recipients. deleted text end

deleted text begin (d) The initial functional assessment must be completed within ten days of intake and updated at least every 30 days for intensive residential treatment services and every six months for assertive community treatment, or prior to discharge from the service, whichever comes first. deleted text end

deleted text begin (e) The initial individual treatment plan must be completed within ten days of intake for assertive community treatment and within 24 hours of admission for intensive residential treatment services. Within ten days of admission, the initial treatment plan must be refined and further developed for intensive residential treatment services, except for providers certified according to Minnesota Rules, parts 9533.0010 to 9533.0180. The individual treatment plan must be reviewed with the recipient and updated at least monthly for intensive residential treatment services and at least every six months for assertive community treatment. deleted text end

deleted text begin Subd. 6. deleted text end

deleted text begin Standards for intensive residential rehabilitative mental health services. deleted text end

deleted text begin (a) The provider of intensive residential services must have sufficient staff to provide 24-hour-per-day coverage to deliver the rehabilitative services described in the treatment plan and to safely supervise and direct the activities of recipients given the recipient's level of behavioral and psychiatric stability, cultural needs, and vulnerability. The provider must have the capacity within the facility to provide integrated services for chemical dependency, illness management services, and family education when appropriate. deleted text end

deleted text begin (b) At a minimum: deleted text end

deleted text begin (1) staff must be available and provide direction and supervision whenever recipients are present in the facility; deleted text end

deleted text begin (2) staff must remain awake during all work hours; deleted text end

deleted text begin (3) there must be a staffing ratio of at least one to nine recipients for each day and evening shift. If more than nine recipients are present at the residential site, there must be a minimum of two staff during day and evening shifts, one of whom must be a mental health practitioner or mental health professional; deleted text end

deleted text begin (4) if services are provided to recipients who need the services of a medical professional, the provider shall assure that these services are provided either by the provider's own medical staff or through referral to a medical professional; and deleted text end

deleted text begin (5) the provider must assure the timely availability of a licensed registered nurse, either directly employed or under contract, who is responsible for ensuring the effectiveness and safety of medication administration in the facility and assessing patients for medication side effects and drug interactions. deleted text end

new text begin Subd. 5a. new text end

new text begin Standards for intensive residential rehabilitative mental health services. new text end

new text begin (a) The standards in this subdivision apply to intensive residential mental health services. new text end

new text begin (b) The provider of intensive residential treatment services must have sufficient staff to provide 24-hour-per-day coverage to deliver the rehabilitative services described in the treatment plan and to safely supervise and direct the activities of clients, given the client's level of behavioral and psychiatric stability, cultural needs, and vulnerability. The provider must have the capacity within the facility to provide integrated services for chemical dependency, illness management services, and family education, when appropriate. new text end

new text begin (c) At a minimum: new text end

new text begin (1) staff must provide direction and supervision whenever clients are present in the facility; new text end

new text begin (2) staff must remain awake during all work hours; new text end

new text begin (3) there must be a staffing ratio of at least one to nine clients for each day and evening shift. If more than nine clients are present at the residential site, there must be a minimum of two staff during day and evening shifts, one of whom must be a mental health practitioner or mental health professional; new text end

new text begin (4) if services are provided to clients who need the services of a medical professional, the provider shall ensure that these services are provided either by the provider's own medical staff or through referral to a medical professional; and new text end

new text begin (5) the provider must ensure the timely availability of a licensed registered nurse, either directly employed or under contract, who is responsible for ensuring the effectiveness and safety of medication administration in the facility and assessing clients for medication side effects and drug interactions. new text end

new text begin (d) Services must be provided by qualified staff as defined in section 256B.0623, subdivision 5, who are trained and supervised according to section 256B.0623, subdivision 6, except that mental health rehabilitation workers acting as overnight staff are not required to comply with section 256B.0623, subdivision 5, clause (4), item (iv). new text end

new text begin (e) The clinical supervisor must be an active member of the intensive residential services treatment team. The team must meet with the clinical supervisor at least weekly to discuss clients' progress and make rapid adjustments to meet clients' needs. The team meeting shall include client-specific case reviews and general treatment discussions among team members. Client-specific case reviews and planning must be documented in the client's treatment record. new text end

new text begin (f) Treatment staff must have prompt access in person or by telephone to a mental health practitioner or mental health professional. The provider must have the capacity to promptly and appropriately respond to emergent needs and make any necessary staffing adjustments to ensure the health and safety of clients. new text end

new text begin (g) The initial functional assessment must be completed within ten days of intake and updated at least every 30 days, or prior to discharge from the service, whichever comes first. new text end

new text begin (h) The initial individual treatment plan must be completed within 24 hours of admission. Within ten days of admission, the initial treatment plan must be refined and further developed, except for providers certified according to Minnesota Rules, parts 9533.0010 to 9533.0180. The individual treatment plan must be reviewed with the client and updated at least monthly. new text end

Subd. 7.

deleted text begin Additional standards fordeleted text end Assertive community treatmentnew text begin service standardsnew text end .

deleted text begin The standards in this subdivision apply to assertive community treatment services. deleted text end

deleted text begin (1) The treatment team must use team treatment, not an individual treatment model. deleted text end

deleted text begin (2) The clinical supervisor must function as a practicing clinician at least on a part-time basis. deleted text end

deleted text begin (3) The staffing ratio must not exceed ten recipients to one full-time equivalent treatment team position. deleted text end

deleted text begin (4) Services must be available at times that meet client needs. deleted text end

deleted text begin (5) The treatment team must actively and assertively engage and reach out to the recipient's family members and significant others, after obtaining the recipient's permission. deleted text end

deleted text begin (6) The treatment team must establish ongoing communication and collaboration between the team, family, and significant others and educate the family and significant others about mental illness, symptom management, and the family's role in treatment. deleted text end

deleted text begin (7) The treatment team must provide interventions to promote positive interpersonal relationships. deleted text end

new text begin (a) ACT teams must offer and have the capacity to directly provide the following services: new text end

new text begin (1) assertive engagement; new text end

new text begin (2) benefits and finance support; new text end

new text begin (3) co-occurring disorder treatment; new text end

new text begin (4) crisis assessment and intervention; new text end

new text begin (5) employment services; new text end

new text begin (6) family psychoeducation and support; new text end

new text begin (7) housing access support; new text end

new text begin (8) medication assistance and support; new text end

new text begin (9) medication education; new text end

new text begin (10) mental health certified peer specialists services; new text end

new text begin (11) physical health services; new text end

new text begin (12) rehabilitative mental health services; new text end

new text begin (13) symptom management; new text end

new text begin (14) therapeutic interventions; new text end

new text begin (15) wellness self-management and prevention; and new text end

new text begin (16) other services based on client needs as identified in a client's assertive community treatment individual treatment plan. new text end

new text begin (b) ACT teams must ensure the provision of all services necessary to meet a client's needs as identified in the client's individual treatment plan. new text end

new text begin Subd. 7b. new text end

new text begin Assertive community treatment team staff requirements and roles. new text end

new text begin (a) The required treatment staff qualifications and roles for an ACT team are: new text end

new text begin (1) the team leader: new text end

new text begin (i) shall be a licensed mental health professional who is qualified under Minnesota Rules, part 9505.0371, subpart 5, item A. Individuals who are not licensed but who are eligible for licensure and are otherwise qualified may also fulfill this role but must obtain full licensure within 24 months of assuming the role of team leader; new text end

new text begin (ii) must be an active member of the ACT team and provide some direct services to clients; new text end

new text begin (iii) must be a single full-time staff member, dedicated to the ACT team, who is responsible for overseeing the administrative operations of the team, providing clinical oversight of services in conjunction with the psychiatrist or psychiatric care provider, and supervising team members to ensure delivery of best and ethical practices; and new text end

new text begin (iv) must be available to provide overall clinical oversight to the ACT team after regular business hours and on weekends and holidays. The team leader may delegate this duty to another qualified member of the ACT team; new text end

new text begin (2) the psychiatric care provider: new text end

new text begin (i) must be a licensed psychiatrist certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology or eligible for board certification or certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry or eligible for board certification, or a psychiatric nurse who is qualified under Minnesota Rules, part 9505.0371, subpart 5, item A. The psychiatric care provider must have demonstrated clinical experience working with individuals with serious and persistent mental illness; new text end

new text begin (ii) shall collaborate with the team leader in sharing overall clinical responsibility for screening and admitting clients; monitoring clients' treatment and team member service delivery; educating staff on psychiatric and nonpsychiatric medications, their side effects, and health-related conditions; actively collaborating with nurses; and helping provide clinical supervision to the team; new text end

new text begin (iii) shall fulfill the following functions for assertive community treatment clients: provide assessment and treatment of clients' symptoms and response to medications, including side effects; provide brief therapy to clients; provide diagnostic and medication education to clients, with medication decisions based on shared decision making; monitor clients' nonpsychiatric medical conditions and nonpsychiatric medications; and conduct home and community visits; new text end

new text begin (iv) shall serve as the point of contact for psychiatric treatment if a client is hospitalized for mental health treatment and shall communicate directly with the client's inpatient psychiatric care providers to ensure continuity of care; new text end

new text begin (v) shall have a minimum full-time equivalency that is prorated at a rate of 16 hours per 50 clients. Part-time psychiatric care providers shall have designated hours to work on the team, with sufficient blocks of time on consistent days to carry out the provider's clinical, supervisory, and administrative responsibilities. No more than two psychiatric care providers may share this role; new text end

new text begin (vi) may not provide specific roles and responsibilities by telemedicine unless approved by the commissioner; and new text end

new text begin (vii) shall provide psychiatric backup to the program after regular business hours and on weekends and holidays. The psychiatric care provider may delegate this duty to another qualified psychiatric provider; new text end

new text begin (3) the nursing staff: new text end

new text begin (i) shall consist of one to three registered nurses or advanced practice registered nurses, of whom at least one has a minimum of one-year experience working with adults with serious mental illness and a working knowledge of psychiatric medications. No more than two individuals can share a full-time equivalent position; new text end

new text begin (ii) are responsible for managing medication, administering and documenting medication treatment, and managing a secure medication room; and new text end

new text begin (iii) shall develop strategies, in collaboration with clients, to maximize taking medications as prescribed; screen and monitor clients' mental and physical health conditions and medication side effects; engage in health promotion, prevention, and education activities; communicate and coordinate services with other medical providers; facilitate the development of the individual treatment plan for clients assigned; and educate the ACT team in monitoring psychiatric and physical health symptoms and medication side effects; new text end

new text begin (4) the co-occurring disorder specialist: new text end

new text begin (i) shall be a full-time equivalent co-occurring disorder specialist who has received specific training on co-occurring disorders that is consistent with national evidence-based practices. The training must include practical knowledge of common substances and how they affect mental illnesses, the ability to assess substance use disorders and the client's stage of treatment, motivational interviewing, and skills necessary to provide counseling to clients at all different stages of change and treatment. The co-occurring disorder specialist may also be an individual who is a licensed alcohol and drug counselor as described in section 148F.01, subdivision 5, or a counselor who otherwise meets the training, experience, and other requirements in Minnesota Rules, part 9530.6450, subpart 5. No more than two co-occurring disorder specialists may occupy this role; and new text end

new text begin (ii) shall provide or facilitate the provision of co-occurring disorder treatment to clients. The co-occurring disorder specialist shall serve as a consultant and educator to fellow ACT team members on co-occurring disorders; new text end

new text begin (5) the vocational specialist: new text end

new text begin (i) shall be a full-time vocational specialist who has at least one-year experience providing employment services or advanced education that involved field training in vocational services to individuals with mental illness. An individual who does not meet these qualifications may also serve as the vocational specialist upon completing a training plan approved by the commissioner; new text end

new text begin (ii) shall provide or facilitate the provision of vocational services to clients. The vocational specialist serves as a consultant and educator to fellow ACT team members on these services; and new text end

new text begin (iii) should not refer individuals to receive any type of vocational services or linkage by providers outside of the ACT team; new text end

new text begin (6) the mental health certified peer specialist: new text end

new text begin (i) shall be a full-time equivalent mental health certified peer specialist as defined in section 256B.0615. No more than two individuals can share this position. The mental health certified peer specialist is a fully integrated team member who provides highly individualized services in the community and promotes the self-determination and shared decision-making abilities of clients. This requirement may be waived due to workforce shortages upon approval of the commissioner; new text end

new text begin (ii) must provide coaching, mentoring, and consultation to the clients to promote recovery, self-advocacy, and self-direction, promote wellness management strategies, and assist clients in developing advance directives; and new text end

new text begin (iii) must model recovery values, attitudes, beliefs, and personal action to encourage wellness and resilience, provide consultation to team members, promote a culture where the clients' points of view and preferences are recognized, understood, respected, and integrated into treatment, and serve in a manner equivalent to other team members; new text end

new text begin (7) the program administrative assistant shall be a full-time office-based program administrative assistant position assigned to solely work with the ACT team, providing a range of supports to the team, clients, and families; and new text end

new text begin (8) additional staff: new text end

new text begin (i) shall be based on team size. Additional treatment team staff may include licensed mental health professionals as defined in Minnesota Rules, part 9505.0371, subpart 5, item A; mental health practitioners as defined in Minnesota Rules, part 9505.0370, subpart 17; or mental health rehabilitation workers as defined in section 256B.0623, subdivision 5, clause (4). These individuals shall have the knowledge, skills, and abilities required by the population served to carry out rehabilitation and support functions; and new text end

new text begin (ii) shall be selected based on specific program needs or the population served. new text end

new text begin (b) Each ACT team must clearly document schedules for all ACT team members. new text end

new text begin (c) Each ACT team member must serve as a primary team member for clients assigned by the team leader and are responsible for facilitating the individual treatment plan process for those clients. The primary team member for a client is the responsible team member knowledgeable about the client's life and circumstances and writes the individual treatment plan. The primary team member provides individual supportive therapy or counseling, and provides primary support and education to the client's family and support system. new text end

new text begin (d) Members of the ACT team must have strong clinical skills, professional qualifications, experience, and competency to provide a full breadth of rehabilitation services. Each staff member shall be proficient in their respective discipline and be able to work collaboratively as a member of a multidisciplinary team to deliver the majority of the treatment, rehabilitation, and support services clients require to fully benefit from receiving assertive community treatment. new text end

new text begin (e) Each ACT team member must fulfill training requirements established by the commissioner. new text end

new text begin Subd. 7c. new text end

new text begin Assertive community treatment program size and opportunities. new text end

new text begin (a) Each ACT team shall maintain an annual average caseload that does not exceed 100 clients. Staff-to-client ratios shall be based on team size as follows: new text end

new text begin (1) a small ACT team must: new text end

new text begin (i) employ at least six but no more than seven full-time treatment team staff, excluding the program assistant and the psychiatric care provider; new text end

new text begin (ii) serve an annual average maximum of no more than 50 clients; new text end

new text begin (iii) ensure at least one full-time equivalent position for every eight clients served; new text end

new text begin (iv) schedule ACT team staff for at least eight-hour shift coverage on weekdays and on-call duty to provide crisis services and deliver services after hours when staff are not working; new text end

new text begin (v) provide crisis services during business hours if the small ACT team does not have sufficient staff numbers to operate an after-hours on-call system. During all other hours, the ACT team may arrange for coverage for crisis assessment and intervention services through a reliable crisis-intervention provider as long as there is a mechanism by which the ACT team communicates routinely with the crisis-intervention provider and the on-call ACT team staff are available to see clients face-to-face when necessary or if requested by the crisis-intervention services provider; new text end

new text begin (vi) adjust schedules and provide staff to carry out the needed service activities in the evenings or on weekend days or holidays, when necessary; new text end

new text begin (vii) arrange for and provide psychiatric backup during all hours the psychiatric care provider is not regularly scheduled to work. If availability of the ACT team's psychiatric care provider during all hours is not feasible, alternative psychiatric prescriber backup must be arranged and a mechanism of timely communication and coordination established in writing; new text end

new text begin (viii) be composed of, at minimum, one full-time team leader, at least 16 hours each week per 50 clients of psychiatric provider time, or equivalent if fewer clients, one full-time equivalent nursing, one full-time substance abuse specialist, one full-time equivalent mental health certified peer specialist, one full-time vocational specialist, one full-time program assistant, and at least one additional full-time ACT team member who has mental health professional or practitioner status; and new text end

new text begin (2) a midsize ACT team shall: new text end

new text begin (i) be composed of, at minimum, one full-time team leader, at least 16 hours of psychiatry time for 51 clients, with an additional two hours for every six clients added to the team, 1.5 to two full-time equivalent nursing staff, one full-time substance abuse specialist, one full-time equivalent mental health certified peer specialist, one full-time vocational specialist, one full-time program assistant, and at least 1.5 to two additional full-time equivalent ACT members, with at least one dedicated full-time staff member with mental health professional status. Remaining team members may have mental health professional or practitioner status; new text end

new text begin (ii) employ seven or more treatment team full-time equivalents, excluding the program assistant and the psychiatric care provider; new text end

new text begin (iii) serve an annual average maximum caseload of 51 to 74 clients; new text end

new text begin (iv) ensure at least one full-time equivalent position for every nine clients served; new text end

new text begin (v) schedule ACT team staff for a minimum of ten-hour shift coverage on weekdays and six- to eight-hour shift coverage on weekends and holidays. In addition to these minimum specifications, staff are regularly scheduled to provide the necessary services on a client-by-client basis in the evenings and on weekends and holidays; new text end

new text begin (vi) schedule ACT team staff on-call duty to provide crisis services and deliver services when staff are not working; new text end

new text begin (vii) have the authority to arrange for coverage for crisis assessment and intervention services through a reliable crisis-intervention provider as long as there is a mechanism by which the ACT team communicates routinely with the crisis-intervention provider and the on-call ACT team staff are available to see clients face-to-face when necessary or if requested by the crisis-intervention services provider; and new text end

new text begin (viii) arrange for and provide psychiatric backup during all hours the psychiatric care provider is not regularly scheduled to work. If availability of the psychiatric care provider during all hours is not feasible, alternative psychiatric prescriber backup must be arranged and a mechanism of timely communication and coordination established in writing; new text end

new text begin (3) a large ACT team must: new text end

new text begin (i) be composed of, at minimum, one full-time team leader, at least 32 hours each week per 100 clients, or equivalent of psychiatry time, three full-time equivalent nursing staff, one full-time substance abuse specialist, one full-time equivalent mental health certified peer specialist, one full-time vocational specialist, one full-time program assistant, and at least two additional full-time equivalent ACT team members, with at least one dedicated full-time staff member with mental health professional status. Remaining team members may have mental health professional or mental health practitioner status; new text end

new text begin (ii) employ nine or more treatment team full-time equivalents, excluding the program assistant and psychiatric care provider; new text end

new text begin (iii) serve an annual average maximum caseload of 75 to 100 clients; new text end

new text begin (iv) ensure at least one full-time equivalent position for every nine individuals served; new text end

new text begin (v) schedule staff to work two eight-hour shifts, with a minimum of two staff on the second shift providing services at least 12 hours per day weekdays. For weekends and holidays, the team must operate and schedule ACT team staff to work one eight-hour shift, with a minimum of two staff each weekend day and every holiday; new text end

new text begin (vi) schedule ACT team staff on-call duty to provide crisis services and deliver services when staff are not working; and new text end

new text begin (vii) arrange for and provide psychiatric backup during all hours the psychiatric care provider is not regularly scheduled to work. If availability of the ACT team psychiatric care provider during all hours is not feasible, alternative psychiatric backup must be arranged and a mechanism of timely communication and coordination established in writing. new text end

new text begin (b) An ACT team of any size may have a staff-to-client ratio that is lower than the requirements described in paragraph (a) upon approval by the commissioner, but may not exceed a one-to-ten staff-to-client ratio. new text end

new text begin Subd. 7d. new text end

new text begin Assertive community treatment program organization and communication requirements. new text end

new text begin (a) An ACT team shall provide at least 75 percent of all services in the community in nonoffice- or nonfacility-based settings. new text end

new text begin (b) ACT team members must know all clients receiving services, and interventions must be carried out with consistency and follow empirically supported practice. new text end

new text begin (c) Each ACT team client shall be assigned an individual treatment team that is determined by a variety of factors, including team members' expertise and skills, rapport, and other factors specific to the individual's preferences. The majority of clients shall see at least three ACT team members in a given month. new text end

new text begin (d) The ACT team shall have the capacity to rapidly increase service intensity to a client when the client's status requires it, regardless of geography, provide flexible service in an individualized manner, and see clients on average three times per week for at least 120 minutes per week. Services must be available at times that meet client needs. new text end

new text begin (e) ACT teams shall make deliberate efforts to assertively engage clients in services. Input of family members, natural supports, and previous and subsequent treatment providers is required in developing engagement strategies. ACT teams shall include the client, identified family, and other support persons in the admission, initial assessment, and planning process as primary stakeholders, meet with the client in the client's environment at times of the day and week that honor the client's preferences, and meet clients at home and in jails or prisons, streets, homeless shelters, or hospitals. new text end

new text begin (f) ACT teams shall ensure that a process is in place for identifying individuals in need of more or less assertive engagement. Interventions are monitored to determine the success of these techniques and the need to adapt the techniques or approach accordingly. new text end

new text begin (g) ACT teams shall conduct daily team meetings to systematically update clinically relevant information, briefly discuss the status of assertive community treatment clients over the past 24 hours, problem solve emerging issues, plan approaches to address and prevent crises, and plan the service contacts for the following 24-hour period or weekend. All team members scheduled to work shall attend this meeting. new text end

new text begin (h) ACT teams shall maintain a clinical log that succinctly documents important clinical information and develop a daily team schedule for the day's contacts based on a central file of the clients' weekly or monthly schedules, which are derived from interventions specified within the individual treatment plan. The team leader must have a record to ensure that all assigned contacts are completed. new text end

new text begin Subd. 7e. new text end

new text begin Assertive community treatment assessment and individual treatment plan. new text end

new text begin (a) An initial assessment, including a diagnostic assessment that meets the requirements of Minnesota Rules, part 9505.0372, subpart 1, and a 30-day treatment plan shall be completed the day of the client's admission to assertive community treatment by the ACT team leader or the psychiatric care provider, with participation by designated ACT team members and the client. The team leader, psychiatric care provider, or other mental health professional designated by the team leader or psychiatric care provider, must update the client's diagnostic assessment at least annually. new text end

new text begin (b) An initial functional assessment must be completed within ten days of intake and updated every six months for assertive community treatment, or prior to discharge from the service, whichever comes first. new text end

new text begin (c) Within 30 days of the client's assertive community treatment admission, the ACT team shall complete an in-depth assessment of the domains listed under section 245.462, subdivision 11a. new text end

new text begin (d) Each part of the in-depth assessment areas shall be completed by each respective team specialist or an ACT team member with skill and knowledge in the area being assessed. The assessments are based upon all available information, including that from client interview family and identified natural supports, and written summaries from other agencies, including police, courts, county social service agencies, outpatient facilities, and inpatient facilities, where applicable. new text end

new text begin (e) Between 30 and 45 days after the client's admission to assertive community treatment, the entire ACT team must hold a comprehensive case conference, where all team members, including the psychiatric provider, present information discovered from the completed in-depth assessments and provide treatment recommendations. The conference must serve as the basis for the first six-month treatment plan, which must be written by the primary team member. new text end

new text begin (f) The client's psychiatric care provider, primary team member, and individual treatment team members shall assume responsibility for preparing the written narrative of the results from the psychiatric and social functioning history timeline and the comprehensive assessment. new text end

new text begin (g) The primary team member and individual treatment team members shall be assigned by the team leader in collaboration with the psychiatric care provider by the time of the first treatment planning meeting or 30 days after admission, whichever occurs first. new text end

new text begin (h) Individual treatment plans must be developed through the following treatment planning process: new text end

new text begin (1) The individual treatment plan shall be developed in collaboration with the client and the client's preferred natural supports, and guardian, if applicable and appropriate. The ACT team shall evaluate, together with each client, the client's needs, strengths, and preferences and develop the individual treatment plan collaboratively. The ACT team shall make every effort to ensure that the client and the client's family and natural supports, with the client's consent, are in attendance at the treatment planning meeting, are involved in ongoing meetings related to treatment, and have the necessary supports to fully participate. The client's participation in the development of the individual treatment plan shall be documented. new text end

new text begin (2) The client and the ACT team shall work together to formulate and prioritize the issues, set goals, research approaches and interventions, and establish the plan. The plan is individually tailored so that the treatment, rehabilitation, and support approaches and interventions achieve optimum symptom reduction, help fulfill the personal needs and aspirations of the client, take into account the cultural beliefs and realities of the individual, and improve all the aspects of psychosocial functioning that are important to the client. The process supports strengths, rehabilitation, and recovery. new text end

new text begin (3) Each client's individual treatment plan shall identify service needs, strengths and capacities, and barriers, and set specific and measurable short- and long-term goals for each service need. The individual treatment plan must clearly specify the approaches and interventions necessary for the client to achieve the individual goals, when the interventions shall happen, and identify which ACT team member shall carry out the approaches and interventions. new text end

new text begin (4) The primary team member and the individual treatment team, together with the client and the client's family and natural supports with the client's consent, are responsible for reviewing and rewriting the treatment goals and individual treatment plan whenever there is a major decision point in the client's course of treatment or at least every six months. new text end

new text begin (5) The primary team member shall prepare a summary that thoroughly describes in writing the client's and the individual treatment team's evaluation of the client's progress and goal attainment, the effectiveness of the interventions, and the satisfaction with services since the last individual treatment plan. The client's most recent diagnostic assessment must be included with the treatment plan summary. new text end

new text begin (6) The individual treatment plan and review must be signed or acknowledged by the client, the primary team member, individual treatment team members, the team leader, the psychiatric care provider, and all individual treatment team members. A copy of the signed individual treatment plan is made available to the client. new text end

new text begin Subd. 7f. new text end

new text begin ACT team variances. new text end

new text begin The commissioner may grant a variance to specific requirements under subdivision 2a, 7b, 7c, or 7d for an ACT team when the ACT team demonstrates an inability to meet the specific requirement and how the team shall ensure the variance shall not negatively impact outcomes for clients. The commissioner may require a plan of action for the ACT team to come into compliance with the specific requirement being varied and establish specific time limits for the variance. A decision to grant or deny a variance request is final and not subject to appeal. new text end

Subd. 8.

Medical assistance payment for deleted text begin intensive rehabilitative mental health servicesdeleted text end new text begin assertive community treatment and intensive residential treatment servicesnew text end .

(a) Payment for intensive residential treatment services and assertive community treatment in this section shall be based on one daily rate per provider inclusive of the following services received by an eligible deleted text begin recipientdeleted text end new text begin clientnew text end in a given calendar day: all rehabilitative services under this section, staff travel time to provide rehabilitative services under this section, and nonresidential crisis stabilization services under section 256B.0624.

(b) Except as indicated in paragraph (c), payment will not be made to more than one entity for each deleted text begin recipientdeleted text end new text begin clientnew text end for services provided under this section on a given day. If services under this section are provided by a team that includes staff from more than one entity, the team must determine how to distribute the payment among the members.

(c) The commissioner shall determine one rate for each provider that will bill medical assistance for residential services under this section and one rate for each assertive community treatment provider. If a single entity provides both services, one rate is established for the entity's residential services and another rate for the entity's nonresidential services under this section. A provider is not eligible for payment under this section without authorization from the commissioner. The commissioner shall develop rates using the following criteria:

(1) the provider's cost for services shall include direct services costs, other program costs, and other costs determined as follows:

(i) the direct services costs must be determined using actual costs of salaries, benefits, payroll taxes, and training of direct service staff and service-related transportation;

(ii) other program costs not included in item (i) must be determined as a specified percentage of the direct services costs as determined by item (i). The percentage used shall be determined by the commissioner based upon the average of percentages that represent the relationship of other program costs to direct services costs among the entities that provide similar services;

(iii) physical plant costs calculated based on the percentage of space within the program that is entirely devoted to treatment and programming. This does not include administrative or residential space;

(iv) assertive community treatment physical plant costs must be reimbursed as part of the costs described in item (ii); and

(v) subject to federal approval, up to an additional five percent of the total rate may be added to the program rate as a quality incentive based upon the entity meeting performance criteria specified by the commissioner;

(2) actual cost is defined as costs which are allowable, allocable, and reasonable, and consistent with federal reimbursement requirements under Code of Federal Regulations, title 48, chapter 1, part 31, relating to for-profit entities, and Office of Management and Budget Circular Number A-122, relating to nonprofit entities;

(3) the number of service units;

(4) the degree to which deleted text begin recipientsdeleted text end new text begin clientsnew text end will receive services other than services under this section; and

(5) the costs of other services that will be separately reimbursed.

(d) The rate for intensive residential treatment services and assertive community treatment must exclude room and board, as defined in section 256I.03, subdivision 6, and services not covered under this section, such as partial hospitalization, home care, and inpatient services.

(e) Physician services that are not separately billed may be included in the rate to the extent that a psychiatrist, or other health care professional providing physician services within their scope of practice, is a member of thenew text begin intensive residential treatment services new text end treatment team. Physician services, whether billed separately or included in the rate, may be delivered by telemedicine. For purposes of this paragraph, "telemedicine" has the meaning given to "mental health telemedicine" in section 256B.0625, subdivision 46, when telemedicine is used to provide intensive residential treatment services.

(f) When services under this section are provided by an assertive community treatment provider, case management functions must be an integral part of the team.

(g) The rate for a provider must not exceed the rate charged by that provider for the same service to other payors.

(h) The rates for existing programs must be established prospectively based upon the expenditures and utilization over a prior 12-month period using the criteria established in paragraph (c). The rates for new programs must be established based upon estimated expenditures and estimated utilization using the criteria established in paragraph (c).

(i) Entities who discontinue providing services must be subject to a settle-up process whereby actual costs and reimbursement for the previous 12 months are compared. In the event that the entity was paid more than the entity's actual costs plus any applicable performance-related funding due the provider, the excess payment must be reimbursed to the department. If a provider's revenue is less than actual allowed costs due to lower utilization than projected, the commissioner may reimburse the provider to recover its actual allowable costs. The resulting adjustments by the commissioner must be proportional to the percent of total units of service reimbursed by the commissioner and must reflect a difference of greater than five percent.

(j) A provider may request of the commissioner a review of any rate-setting decision made under this subdivision.

Subd. 9.

Provider enrollment; rate setting for county-operated entities.

Counties that employ their own staff to provide services under this section shall apply directly to the commissioner for enrollment and rate setting. In this case, a county contract is not required.

Subd. 10.

Provider enrollment; rate setting for specialized program.

A county contract is not required for a provider proposing to serve a subpopulation of eligible deleted text begin recipientsdeleted text end new text begin clientsnew text end under the following circumstances:

(1) the provider demonstrates that the subpopulation to be served requires a specialized program which is not available from county-approved entities; and

(2) the subpopulation to be served is of such a low incidence that it is not feasible to develop a program serving a single county or regional group of counties.

Subd. 11.

Sustainability grants.

The commissioner may disburse grant funds directly to intensive residential treatment services providers and assertive community treatment providers to maintain access to these services.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2016, for ACT teams certified after January 1, 2016. For ACT teams certified before January 1, 2016, this section is effective January 1, 2017. new text end

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 256B.0947, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Definitions.

For purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given them.

(a) "Intensive nonresidential rehabilitative mental health services" means child rehabilitative mental health services as defined in section 256B.0943, except that these services are provided by a multidisciplinary staff using a total team approach consistent with assertive community treatment, as adapted for youth, and are directed to recipients ages 16 deleted text begin to 21deleted text end new text begin , 17, 18, 19, or 20new text end with a serious mental illness or co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse addiction who require intensive services to prevent admission to an inpatient psychiatric hospital or placement in a residential treatment facility or who require intensive services to step down from inpatient or residential care to community-based care.

(b) "Co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse addiction" means a dual diagnosis of at least one form of mental illness and at least one substance use disorder. Substance use disorders include alcohol or drug abuse or dependence, excluding nicotine use.

(c) "Diagnostic assessment" has the meaning given to it in Minnesota Rules, part 9505.0370, subpart 11. A diagnostic assessment must be provided according to Minnesota Rules, part 9505.0372, subpart 1, and for this section must incorporate a determination of the youth's necessary level of care using a standardized functional assessment instrument approved and periodically updated by the commissioner.

(d) "Education specialist" means an individual with knowledge and experience working with youth regarding special education requirements and goals, special education plans, and coordination of educational activities with health care activities.

(e) "Housing access support" means an ancillary activity to help an individual find, obtain, retain, and move to safe and adequate housing. Housing access support does not provide monetary assistance for rent, damage deposits, or application fees.

(f) "Integrated dual disorders treatment" means the integrated treatment of co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders by a team of cross-trained clinicians within the same program, and is characterized by assertive outreach, stage-wise comprehensive treatment, treatment goal setting, and flexibility to work within each stage of treatment.

(g) "Medication education services" means services provided individually or in groups, which focus on:

(1) educating the client and client's family or significant nonfamilial supporters about mental illness and symptoms;

(2) the role and effects of medications in treating symptoms of mental illness; and

(3) the side effects of medications.

Medication education is coordinated with medication management services and does not duplicate it. Medication education services are provided by physicians, pharmacists, or registered nurses with certification in psychiatric and mental health care.

(h) "Peer specialist" means an employed team member who is a new text begin mental health new text end certified peer specialistnew text begin according to section 256B.0615new text end and also a former children's mental health consumer who:

(1) provides direct services to clients including social, emotional, and instrumental support and outreach;

(2) assists younger peers to identify and achieve specific life goals;

(3) works directly with clients to promote the client's self-determination, personal responsibility, and empowerment;

(4) assists youth with mental illness to regain control over their lives and their developmental process in order to move effectively into adulthood;

(5) provides training and education to other team members, consumer advocacy organizations, and clients on resiliency and peer support; and

(6) meets the following criteria:

(i) is at least 22 years of age;

(ii) has had a diagnosis of mental illness, as defined in Minnesota Rules, part 9505.0370, subpart 20, or co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse addiction;

(iii) is a former consumer of child and adolescent mental health services, or a former or current consumer of adult mental health services for a period of at least two years;

(iv) has at least a high school diploma or equivalent;

(v) has successfully completed training requirements determined and periodically updated by the commissioner;

(vi) is willing to disclose the individual's own mental health history to team members and clients; and

(vii) must be free of substance use problems for at least one year.

(i) "Provider agency" means a for-profit or nonprofit organization established to administer an assertive community treatment for youth team.

(j) "Substance use disorders" means one or more of the disorders defined in the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, current edition.

(k) "Transition services" means:

(1) activities, materials, consultation, and coordination that ensures continuity of the client's care in advance of and in preparation for the client's move from one stage of care or life to another by maintaining contact with the client and assisting the client to establish provider relationships;

(2) providing the client with knowledge and skills needed posttransition;

(3) establishing communication between sending and receiving entities;

(4) supporting a client's request for service authorization and enrollment; and

(5) establishing and enforcing procedures and schedules.

A youth's transition from the children's mental health system and services to the adult mental health system and services and return to the client's home and entry or re-entry into community-based mental health services following discharge from an out-of-home placement or inpatient hospital stay.

(l) "Treatment team" means all staff who provide services to recipients under this section.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 7.

new text begin SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER SYSTEM REFORM. new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Authorization of substance use disorder treatment system reform. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall design a reform of Minnesota's substance use disorder treatment system to ensure a full continuum of care for individuals with substance use disorders. new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Goals. new text end

new text begin The proposal outlined in subdivision 3 shall support the following goals: new text end

new text begin (1) improve and promote strategies to identify individuals with substance use issues and disorders; new text end

new text begin (2) ensure timely access to treatment and improve access to treatment; new text end

new text begin (3) enhance clinical practices and promote clinical guidelines and decision-making tools for serving people with substance use disorders; new text end

new text begin (4) build aftercare and recovery support services; new text end

new text begin (5) coordinate and consolidate funding streams, including local, state, and federal funds, to maximize efficiency; new text end

new text begin (6) increase use of quality and outcome measures to inform benefit design and payment models; and new text end

new text begin (7) coordinate treatment of substance use disorders with primary care, long-term care, and the mental health delivery system when appropriate. new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Reform proposal. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner shall develop a reform proposal that includes both systemic and practice reforms to develop a robust continuum of care to effectively treat the physical, behavioral, and mental dimensions of substance use disorders. The reform proposal shall include, but is not limited to: new text end

new text begin (1) an assessment and access process that permits clients to present directly to a service provider for a substance use disorder assessment and authorization of services; new text end

new text begin (2) mechanisms for direct reimbursement of credentialed professionals; new text end

new text begin (3) care coordination models to connect individuals with substance use disorder to appropriate providers; new text end

new text begin (4) peer support services for people in recovery from substance use disorders; new text end

new text begin (5) implementation of withdrawal management services pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 245F.21; new text end

new text begin (6) primary prevention services to delay onset of substance use and avoid the development of addiction; new text end

new text begin (7) development or modification of services to meet the needs of youth and adolescents and increase student access to substance use disorder services in educational settings; new text end

new text begin (8) development of other new services and supports that are responsive to the chronic nature of substance use disorders; and new text end

new text begin (9) available options to allow for exceptions to the federal Institution for Mental Disease (IMD) exclusion for medically necessary, rehabilitative, substance use disorder treatment provided in the most integrated and least restrictive setting. new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner shall seek all federal authority necessary to implement the proposal. The commissioner shall seek any federal waivers, state plan amendments, requests for new funding, realignment of existing funding, and other authority necessary to implement elements of the reform proposal outlined in this section. new text end

new text begin (c) Implementation is contingent upon legislative approval of the proposal under this subdivision. new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Legislative update. new text end

new text begin By February 1, 2017, the commissioner shall present an update on the progress of the proposal to members of the legislative committees of the house of representatives and senate with jurisdiction over health and human services policy and finance on the progress of the proposal and shall make recommendations on legislative changes and state appropriations necessary to implement the proposal. new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Stakeholder input. new text end

new text begin In developing the proposal, the commissioner shall consult with stakeholders, including consumers, providers, counties, tribes, and health plans. new text end

ARTICLE 3

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2015 Supplement, section 125A.08, is amended to read:

125A.08 INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

(a) At the beginning of each school year, each school district shall have in effect, for each child with a disability, an individualized education program.

(b) As defined in this section, every district must ensure the following:

(1) all students with disabilities are provided the special instruction and services which are appropriate to their needs. Where the individualized education program team has determined appropriate goals and objectives based on the student's needs, including the extent to which the student can be included in the least restrictive environment, and where there are essentially equivalent and effective instruction, related services, or assistive technology devices available to meet the student's needs, cost to the district may be among the factors considered by the team in choosing how to provide the appropriate services, instruction, or devices that are to be made part of the student's individualized education program. The individualized education program team shall consider and may authorize services covered by medical assistance according to section 256B.0625, subdivision 26. new text begin Before a school district evaluation team makes a determination of other health disability under Minnesota Rules, part 3525.1335, subparts 1 and 2, item A, subitem (1), the evaluation team must seek written documentation of the student's medically diagnosed chronic or acute health condition signed by a licensed physician or a licensed health care provider acting within the scope of the provider's practice. new text end The student's needs and the special education instruction and services to be provided must be agreed upon through the development of an individualized education program. The program must address the student's need to develop skills to live and work as independently as possible within the community. The individualized education program team must consider positive behavioral interventions, strategies, and supports that address behavior needs for children. During grade 9, the program must address the student's needs for transition from secondary services to postsecondary education and training, employment, community participation, recreation, and leisure and home living. In developing the program, districts must inform parents of the full range of transitional goals and related services that should be considered. The program must include a statement of the needed transition services, including a statement of the interagency responsibilities or linkages or both before secondary services are concluded;

(2) children with a disability under age five and their families are provided special instruction and services appropriate to the child's level of functioning and needs;

(3) children with a disability and their parents or guardians are guaranteed procedural safeguards and the right to participate in decisions involving identification, assessment including assistive technology assessment, and educational placement of children with a disability;

(4) eligibility and needs of children with a disability are determined by an initial evaluation or reevaluation, which may be completed using existing data under United States Code, title 20, section 33, et seq.;

(5) to the maximum extent appropriate, children with a disability, including those in public or private institutions or other care facilities, are educated with children who are not disabled, and that special classes, separate schooling, or other removal of children with a disability from the regular educational environment occurs only when and to the extent that the nature or severity of the disability is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary services cannot be achieved satisfactorily;

(6) in accordance with recognized professional standards, testing and evaluation materials, and procedures used for the purposes of classification and placement of children with a disability are selected and administered so as not to be racially or culturally discriminatory; and

(7) the rights of the child are protected when the parents or guardians are not known or not available, or the child is a ward of the state.

(c) For all paraprofessionals employed to work in programs whose role in part is to provide direct support to students with disabilities, the school board in each district shall ensure that:

(1) before or beginning at the time of employment, each paraprofessional must develop sufficient knowledge and skills in emergency procedures, building orientation, roles and responsibilities, confidentiality, vulnerability, and reportability, among other things, to begin meeting the needs, especially disability-specific and behavioral needs, of the students with whom the paraprofessional works;

(2) annual training opportunities are required to enable the paraprofessional to continue to further develop the knowledge and skills that are specific to the students with whom the paraprofessional works, including understanding disabilities, the unique and individual needs of each student according to the student's disability and how the disability affects the student's education and behavior, following lesson plans, and implementing follow-up instructional procedures and activities; and

(3) a districtwide process obligates each paraprofessional to work under the ongoing direction of a licensed teacher and, where appropriate and possible, the supervision of a school nurse.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 148.975, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Definitions.

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

(b) "Other person" means an immediate family member or someone who personally knows the client and has reason to believe the client is capable of and will carry out the serious, specific threat of harm to a specific, clearly identified or identifiable victim.

(c) "Reasonable efforts" means communicating the serious, specific threat to the potential victim and if unable to make contact with the potential victim, communicating the serious, specific threat to the law enforcement agency closest to the potential victim or the client.

new text begin (d) For purposes of this section, "licensee" includes practicum psychology students, predoctoral psychology interns, and individuals who have earned a doctoral degree in psychology and are in the process of completing their postdoctoral supervised psychological employment in order to qualify for licensure. new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 148B.1751, is amended to read:

148B.1751 DUTY TO WARN.

new text begin (a) new text end A licensee must comply with the duty to warn established in section 148.975.

new text begin (b) For purposes of this section, "licensee" includes students or interns practicing marriage and family therapy under qualified supervision as part of an accredited educational program or under a supervised postgraduate experience in marriage and family therapy required for licensure. new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 148F.13, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Duty to warn; limitation on liability.

new text begin (a) new text end Private information may be disclosed without the consent of the client when a duty to warn arises, or as otherwise provided by law or court order. The duty to warn of, or take reasonable precautions to provide protection from, violent behavior arises only when a client or other person has communicated to the provider a specific, serious threat of physical violence to self or a specific, clearly identified or identifiable potential victim. If a duty to warn arises, the duty is discharged by the provider if reasonable efforts are made to communicate the threat to law enforcement agencies, the potential victim, the family of the client, or appropriate third parties who are in a position to prevent or avert the harm. No monetary liability and no cause of action or disciplinary action by the board may arise against a provider for disclosure of confidences to third parties, for failure to disclose confidences to third parties, or for erroneous disclosure of confidences to third parties in a good faith effort to warn against or take precautions against a client's violent behavior or threat of suicide.

new text begin (b) For purposes of this subdivision, "provider" includes alcohol and drug counseling practicum students and individuals who are participating in a postdegree professional practice in alcohol and drug counseling. new text end

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 245A.11, subdivision 2a, is amended to read:

Subd. 2a.

Adult foster care and community residential setting license capacity.

(a) The commissioner shall issue adult foster care and community residential setting licenses with a maximum licensed capacity of four beds, including nonstaff roomers and boarders, except that the commissioner may issue a license with a capacity of five beds, including roomers and boarders, according to paragraphs (b) to (f).

(b) The license holder may have a maximum license capacity of five if all persons in care are age 55 or over and do not have a serious and persistent mental illness or a developmental disability.

(c) The commissioner may grant variances to paragraph (b) to allow a facility with a licensed capacity of new text begin up to new text end five persons to admit an individual under the age of 55 if the variance complies with section 245A.04, subdivision 9, and approval of the variance is recommended by the county in which the licensed facility is located.

(d) The commissioner may grant variances to paragraph (b) to allow the use of deleted text begin a fifthdeleted text end new text begin an additionalnew text end bednew text begin , up to five,new text end for emergency crisis services for a person with serious and persistent mental illness or a developmental disability, regardless of age, if the variance complies with section 245A.04, subdivision 9, and approval of the variance is recommended by the county in which the licensed facility is located.

(e) The commissioner may grant a variance to paragraph (b) to allow for the use of deleted text begin a fifthdeleted text end new text begin an additionalnew text end bednew text begin , up to five,new text end for respite services, as defined in section 245A.02, for persons with disabilities, regardless of age, if the variance complies with sections 245A.03, subdivision 7, and 245A.04, subdivision 9, and approval of the variance is recommended by the county in which the licensed facility is located. Respite care may be provided under the following conditions:

(1) staffing ratios cannot be reduced below the approved level for the individuals being served in the home on a permanent basis;

(2) no more than two different individuals can be accepted for respite services in any calendar month and the total respite days may not exceed 120 days per program in any calendar year;

(3) the person receiving respite services must have his or her own bedroom, which could be used for alternative purposes when not used as a respite bedroom, and cannot be the room of another person who lives in the facility; and

(4) individuals living in the facility must be notified when the variance is approved. The provider must give 60 days' notice in writing to the residents and their legal representatives prior to accepting the first respite placement. Notice must be given to residents at least two days prior to service initiation, or as soon as the license holder is able if they receive notice of the need for respite less than two days prior to initiation, each time a respite client will be served, unless the requirement for this notice is waived by the resident or legal guardian.

(f) The commissioner may issue an adult foster care or community residential setting license with a capacity of five adults if the fifth bed does not increase the overall statewide capacity of licensed adult foster care or community residential setting beds in homes that are not the primary residence of the license holder, as identified in a plan submitted to the commissioner by the county, when the capacity is recommended by the county licensing agency of the county in which the facility is located and if the recommendation verifies that:

(1) the facility meets the physical environment requirements in the adult foster care licensing rule;

(2) the five-bed living arrangement is specified for each resident in the resident's:

(i) individualized plan of care;

(ii) individual service plan under section 256B.092, subdivision 1b, if required; or

(iii) individual resident placement agreement under Minnesota Rules, part 9555.5105, subpart 19, if required;

(3) the license holder obtains written and signed informed consent from each resident or resident's legal representative documenting the resident's informed choice to remain living in the home and that the resident's refusal to consent would not have resulted in service termination; and

(4) the facility was licensed for adult foster care before March 1, 2011.

(g) The commissioner shall not issue a new adult foster care license under paragraph (f) after June 30, deleted text begin 2016deleted text end new text begin 2019new text end . The commissioner shall allow a facility with an adult foster care license issued under paragraph (f) before June 30, deleted text begin 2016deleted text end new text begin 2019new text end , to continue with a capacity of five adults if the license holder continues to comply with the requirements in paragraph (f).

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2015 Supplement, section 256.01, subdivision 12a, is amended to read:

Subd. 12a.

Department of Human Services child fatality and near fatality review team.

new text begin (a) new text end The commissioner shall establish a Department of Human Services child fatality and near fatality review team to review child fatalities and near fatalities due to child maltreatment and child fatalities and near fatalities that occur in licensed facilities and are not due to natural causes. The review team shall assess the entire child protection services process from the point of a mandated reporter reporting the alleged maltreatment through the ongoing case management process. Department staff shall lead and conduct on-site local reviews and utilize supervisors from local county and tribal child welfare agencies as peer reviewers. The review process must focus on critical elements of the case and on the involvement of the child and family with the county or tribal child welfare agency. The review team shall identify necessary program improvement planning to address any practice issues identified and training and technical assistance needs of the local agency. Summary reports of each review shall be provided to the state child mortality review panel when completed.

new text begin (b) A member of the child fatality and near fatality review team shall not disclose what transpired during the review, except to carry out the duties of the child fatality and near fatality review team. The proceedings and records of the child fatality and near fatality review team are protected nonpublic data as defined in section 13.02, subdivision 13, and are not subject to discovery or introduction into evidence in a civil or criminal action against a professional, the state, or a county agency arising out of the matters the team is reviewing. Information, documents, and records otherwise available from other sources are not immune from discovery or use in a civil or criminal action solely because they were assessed or presented during proceedings of the review team. A person who presented information before the review team or who is a member of the team shall not be prevented from testifying about matters within the person's knowledge. In a civil or criminal proceeding a person shall not be questioned about the person's presentation of information to the review team or opinions formed by the person as a result of the review. new text end

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 256B.0751, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Requirements for clinicians certified as health care homes.

(a) A personal clinician or a primary care clinic may be certified as a health care home. If a primary care clinic is certified, all of the primary care clinic's clinicians must meet the criteria of a health care home. In order to be certified as a health care home, a clinician or clinic must meet the standards set by the commissioners in accordance with this section. Certification as a health care home is voluntary. In order to maintain their status as health care homes, clinicians or clinics must renew their certification deleted text begin annuallydeleted text end new text begin every three yearsnew text end .

(b) Clinicians or clinics certified as health care homes must offer their health care home services to all their patients with complex or chronic health conditions who are interested in participation.

(c) Health care homes must participate in the health care home collaborative established under subdivision 5.

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2015 Supplement, section 256B.0911, subdivision 3a, is amended to read:

Subd. 3a.

Assessment and support planning.

(a) Persons requesting assessment, services planning, or other assistance intended to support community-based living, including persons who need assessment in order to determine waiver or alternative care program eligibility, must be visited by a long-term care consultation team within 20 calendar days after the date on which an assessment was requested or recommended. Upon statewide implementation of subdivisions 2b, 2c, and 5, this requirement also applies to an assessment of a person requesting personal care assistance services and home care nursing. The commissioner shall provide at least a 90-day notice to lead agencies prior to the effective date of this requirement. Face-to-face assessments must be conducted according to paragraphs (b) to (i).

(b) Upon implementation of subdivisions 2b, 2c, and 5, lead agencies shall use certified assessors to conduct the assessment. For a person with complex health care needs, a public health or registered nurse from the team must be consulted.

(c) The MnCHOICES assessment provided by the commissioner to lead agencies must be used to complete a comprehensive, person-centered assessment. The assessment must include the health, psychological, functional, environmental, and social needs of the individual necessary to develop a community support plan that meets the individual's needs and preferences.

(d) The assessment must be conducted in a face-to-face interview with the person being assessed and the person's legal representativedeleted text begin , and other individuals as requested by the person, who can provide information on the needs, strengths, and preferences of the person necessary to develop a community support plan that ensures the person's health and safety, but who is not a provider of service or has any financial interest in the provision of servicesdeleted text end .new text begin At the request of the person, other individuals may participate in the assessment to provide information on the needs, strengths, and preferences of the person necessary to develop a community support plan that ensures the person's health and safety. Except for legal representatives or family members invited by the person, persons participating in the assessment may not be a provider of service or have any financial interest in the provision of services.new text end For persons who are to be assessed for elderly waiver customized living services under section 256B.0915, with the permission of the person being assessed or the person's designated or legal representative, the client's current or proposed provider of services may submit a copy of the provider's nursing assessment or written report outlining its recommendations regarding the client's care needs. The person conducting the assessment must notify the provider of the date by which this information is to be submitted. This information shall be provided to the person conducting the assessment prior to the assessment. For a person who is to be assessed for waiver services under section 256B.092 or 256B.49, with the permission of the person being assessed or the person's designated legal representative, the person's current provider of services may submit a written report outlining recommendations regarding the person's care needs prepared by a direct service employee with at least 20 hours of service to that client. The person conducting the assessment or reassessment must notify the provider of the date by which this information is to be submitted. This information shall be provided to the person conducting the assessment and the person or the person's legal representative, and must be considered prior to the finalization of the assessment or reassessment.

(e) The person or the person's legal representative must be provided with a written community support plan within 40 calendar days of the assessment visit, regardless of whether the individual is eligible for Minnesota health care programs. The written community support plan must include:

(1) a summary of assessed needs as defined in paragraphs (c) and (d);

(2) the individual's options and choices to meet identified needs, including all available options for case management services and providers;

(3) identification of health and safety risks and how those risks will be addressed, including personal risk management strategies;

(4) referral information; and

(5) informal caregiver supports, if applicable.

For a person determined eligible for state plan home care under subdivision 1a, paragraph (b), clause (1), the person or person's representative must also receive a copy of the home care service plan developed by the certified assessor.

(f) A person may request assistance in identifying community supports without participating in a complete assessment. Upon a request for assistance identifying community support, the person must be transferred or referred to long-term care options counseling services available under sections 256.975, subdivision 7, and 256.01, subdivision 24, for telephone assistance and follow up.

(g) The person has the right to make the final decision between institutional placement and community placement after the recommendations have been provided, except as provided in section 256.975, subdivision 7a, paragraph (d).

(h) The lead agency must give the person receiving assessment or support planning, or the person's legal representative, materials, and forms supplied by the commissioner containing the following information:

(1) written recommendations for community-based services and consumer-directed options;

(2) documentation that the most cost-effective alternatives available were offered to the individual. For purposes of this clause, "cost-effective" means community services and living arrangements that cost the same as or less than institutional care. For an individual found to meet eligibility criteria for home and community-based service programs under section 256B.0915 or 256B.49, "cost-effectiveness" has the meaning found in the federally approved waiver plan for each program;

(3) the need for and purpose of preadmission screening conducted by long-term care options counselors according to section 256.975, subdivisions 7a to 7c, if the person selects nursing facility placement. If the individual selects nursing facility placement, the lead agency shall forward information needed to complete the level of care determinations and screening for developmental disability and mental illness collected during the assessment to the long-term care options counselor using forms provided by the commissioner;

(4) the role of long-term care consultation assessment and support planning in eligibility determination for waiver and alternative care programs, and state plan home care, case management, and other services as defined in subdivision 1a, paragraphs (a), clause (6), and (b);

(5) information about Minnesota health care programs;

(6) the person's freedom to accept or reject the recommendations of the team;

(7) the person's right to confidentiality under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, chapter 13;

(8) the certified assessor's decision regarding the person's need for institutional level of care as determined under criteria established in subdivision 4e and the certified assessor's decision regarding eligibility for all services and programs as defined in subdivision 1a, paragraphs (a), clause (6), and (b); and

(9) the person's right to appeal the certified assessor's decision regarding eligibility for all services and programs as defined in subdivision 1a, paragraphs (a), clauses (6), (7), and (8), and (b), and incorporating the decision regarding the need for institutional level of care or the lead agency's final decisions regarding public programs eligibility according to section 256.045, subdivision 3.

(i) Face-to-face assessment completed as part of eligibility determination for the alternative care, elderly waiver, community access for disability inclusion, community alternative care, and brain injury waiver programs under sections 256B.0913, 256B.0915, and 256B.49 is valid to establish service eligibility for no more than 60 calendar days after the date of assessment.

(j) The effective eligibility start date for programs in paragraph (i) can never be prior to the date of assessment. If an assessment was completed more than 60 days before the effective waiver or alternative care program eligibility start date, assessment and support plan information must be updated and documented in the department's Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS). Notwithstanding retroactive medical assistance coverage of state plan services, the effective date of eligibility for programs included in paragraph (i) cannot be prior to the date the most recent updated assessment is completed.

Sec. 9.

Minnesota Statutes 2015 Supplement, section 256B.766, is amended to read:

256B.766 REIMBURSEMENT FOR BASIC CARE SERVICES.

(a) Effective for services provided on or after July 1, 2009, total payments for basic care services, shall be reduced by three percent, except that for the period July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2011, total payments shall be reduced by 4.5 percent for the medical assistance and general assistance medical care programs, prior to third-party liability and spenddown calculation. Effective July 1, 2010, the commissioner shall classify physical therapy services, occupational therapy services, and speech-language pathology and related services as basic care services. The reduction in this paragraph shall apply to physical therapy services, occupational therapy services, and speech-language pathology and related services provided on or after July 1, 2010.

(b) Payments made to managed care plans and county-based purchasing plans shall be reduced for services provided on or after October 1, 2009, to reflect the reduction effective July 1, 2009, and payments made to the plans shall be reduced effective October 1, 2010, to reflect the reduction effective July 1, 2010.

(c) Effective for services provided on or after September 1, 2011, through June 30, 2013, total payments for outpatient hospital facility fees shall be reduced by five percent from the rates in effect on August 31, 2011.

(d) Effective for services provided on or after September 1, 2011, through June 30, 2013, total payments for ambulatory surgery centers facility fees, medical supplies and durable medical equipment not subject to a volume purchase contract, prosthetics and orthotics, renal dialysis services, laboratory services, public health nursing services, physical therapy services, occupational therapy services, speech therapy services, eyeglasses not subject to a volume purchase contract, hearing aids not subject to a volume purchase contract, and anesthesia services shall be reduced by three percent from the rates in effect on August 31, 2011.

(e) Effective for services provided on or after September 1, 2014, payments for ambulatory surgery centers facility fees, hospice services, renal dialysis services, laboratory services, public health nursing services, eyeglasses not subject to a volume purchase contract, and hearing aids not subject to a volume purchase contract shall be increased by three percent and payments for outpatient hospital facility fees shall be increased by three percent. Payments made to managed care plans and county-based purchasing plans shall not be adjusted to reflect payments under this paragraph.

(f) Payments for medical supplies and durable medical equipment not subject to a volume purchase contract, and prosthetics and orthotics, provided on or after July 1, 2014, through June 30, 2015, shall be decreased by .33 percent. Payments for medical supplies and durable medical equipment not subject to a volume purchase contract, and prosthetics and orthotics, provided on or after July 1, 2015, shall be increased by three percent from the rates as determined under deleted text begin paragraph (i)deleted text end new text begin paragraphs (i) and (j)new text end .

(g) Effective for services provided on or after July 1, 2015, payments for outpatient hospital facility fees, medical supplies and durable medical equipment not subject to a volume purchase contract, prosthetics and orthotics, and laboratory services to a hospital meeting the criteria specified in section 62Q.19, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clause (4), shall be increased by 90 percent from the rates in effect on June 30, 2015. Payments made to managed care plans and county-based purchasing plans shall not be adjusted to reflect payments under this paragraph.

(h) This section does not apply to physician and professional services, inpatient hospital services, family planning services, mental health services, dental services, prescription drugs, medical transportation, federally qualified health centers, rural health centers, Indian health services, and Medicare cost-sharing.

(i) Effectivenew text begin for services provided on or afternew text end July 1, 2015, the deleted text begin medical assistance payment rate for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, or supplies shall be restored to the January 1, 2008, medical assistance fee schedule, updated to include subsequent rate increases in the Medicare and medical assistance fee schedules, and includingdeleted text end new text begin following categories of durable medical equipment shall benew text end individually priced items deleted text begin for the following categoriesdeleted text end : enteral nutrition and supplies, customized and other specialized tracheostomy tubes and supplies, electric patient lifts, and durable medical equipment repair and service. This paragraph does not apply to medical supplies and durable medical equipment subject to a volume purchase contract, products subject to the preferred diabetic testing supply program, and items provided to dually eligible recipients when Medicare is the primary payer for the item.new text begin The commissioner shall not apply any medical assistance rate reductions to durable medical equipment as a result of Medicare competitive bidding.new text end

new text begin (j) Effective for services provided on or after July 1, 2015, medical assistance payment rates for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, or supplies shall be increased as follows: new text end

new text begin (1) payment rates for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, or supplies that were subject to the Medicare competitive bid that took effect in January of 2009 shall be increased by 9.5 percent; and new text end

new text begin (2) payment rates for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, or supplies on the medical assistance fee schedule, whether or not subject to the Medicare competitive bid that took effect in January of 2009, shall be increased by 2.94 percent, with this increase being applied after calculation of any increased payment rate under clause (1). new text end

new text begin This paragraph does not apply to medical supplies and durable medical equipment subject to a volume purchase contract, products subject to the preferred diabetic testing supply program, items provided to dually eligible recipients when Medicare is the primary payer for the item, and individually priced items identified in paragraph (i). Payments made to managed care plans and county-based purchasing plans shall not be adjusted to reflect the rate increases in this paragraph. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective retroactively from July 1, 2015. new text end

Sec. 10.

Minnesota Statutes 2015 Supplement, section 256I.04, subdivision 2a, is amended to read:

Subd. 2a.

License required; staffing qualifications.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), an agency may not enter into an agreement with an establishment to provide group residential housing unless:

(1) the establishment is licensed by the Department of Health as a hotel and restaurant; a board and lodging establishment; a boarding care home before March 1, 1985; or a supervised living facility, and the service provider for residents of the facility is licensed under chapter 245A. However, an establishment licensed by the Department of Health to provide lodging need not also be licensed to provide board if meals are being supplied to residents under a contract with a food vendor who is licensed by the Department of Health;

(2) the residence is: (i) licensed by the commissioner of human services under Minnesota Rules, parts 9555.5050 to 9555.6265; (ii) certified by a county human services agency prior to July 1, 1992, using the standards under Minnesota Rules, parts 9555.5050 to 9555.6265; (iii) licensed by the commissioner under Minnesota Rules, parts 2960.0010 to 2960.0120, with a variance under section 245A.04, subdivision 9; or (iv) licensed under section 245D.02, subdivision 4a, as a community residential setting by the commissioner of human services; or

(3) the establishment is registered under chapter 144D and provides three meals a day.

(b) The requirements under paragraph (a) do not apply to establishments exempt from state licensure because they are:

(1) located on Indian reservations and subject to tribal health and safety requirements; or

(2) a supportive housing establishment that has an approved habitability inspection and an individual lease agreement and that serves people who have experienced long-term homelessness and were referred through a coordinated assessment in section 256I.03, subdivision 15.

(c) Supportive housing establishments and emergency shelters must participate in the homeless management information system.

(d) Effective July 1, 2016, an agency shall not have an agreement with a provider of group residential housing or supplementary services unless all staff members who have direct contact with recipients:

(1) have skills and knowledge acquired through one or more of the following:

(i) a course of study in a health- or human services-related field leading to a bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, or associate's degree;

(ii) one year of experience with the target population served;

(iii) experience as a new text begin mental health new text end certified peer specialist according to section 256B.0615; or

(iv) meeting the requirements for unlicensed personnel under sections 144A.43 to 144A.483;

(2) hold a current deleted text begin Minnesotadeleted text end driver's license appropriate to the vehicle driven if transporting recipients;

(3) complete training on vulnerable adults mandated reporting and child maltreatment mandated reporting, where applicable; and

(4) complete group residential housing orientation training offered by the commissioner.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 11.

Minnesota Statutes 2015 Supplement, section 402A.18, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Conditions prior to imposing remedies.

(a) The commissioner shall notify a county or service delivery authority that it must submit a performance improvement plan if:

(1) the county or service delivery authority does not meet the minimum performance threshold for a measure; or

(2) the county or service delivery authority deleted text begin does not meet the minimum performance threshold for one or more racial or ethnic subgroup for which there is a statistically valid population size for three or more measures,deleted text end new text begin has a performance disparity for a racial or ethnic subgroup,new text end even if the county or service delivery authority met the threshold for the overall population. new text begin The council shall make recommendations on performance disparities, and the commissioner shall make the final determination.new text end

deleted text begin The commissioner must approve the performance improvement plan. The county or deleted text end deleted text begin service delivery authority may negotiate the terms of the performance improvement plan deleted text end deleted text begin with the commissioner. deleted text end

(b) When the department determines that a county or service delivery authority does not meet the minimum performance threshold for a given measure, the commissioner must advise the county or service delivery authority that fiscal penalties may result if the performance does not improve. The department must offer technical assistance to the county or service delivery authority. Within 30 days of the initial advisement from the department, the county or service delivery authority may claim and the department may approve an extenuating circumstance that relieves the county or service delivery authority of any further remedy. If a county or service delivery authority has a small number of participants in an essential human services program such that reliable measurement is not possible, the commissioner may approve extenuating circumstances deleted text begin or may average performance over three yearsdeleted text end .

(c) If there are no extenuating circumstances, the county or service delivery authority must submit a performance improvement plan to the commissioner within 60 days of the initial advisement from the department. The term of the performance improvement plan must be two years, starting with the date the plan is approved by the commissioner. This plan must include a target level for improvement for each measure that did not meet the minimum performance threshold. The commissioner must approve the performance improvement plan within 60 days of submittal.

(d) The department must monitor the performance improvement plan for two years. After two years, if the county or service delivery authority meets the minimum performance threshold, there is no further remedy. If the county or service delivery authority fails to meet the minimum performance threshold, but meets the improvement target in the performance improvement plan, the county or service delivery authority shall modify the performance improvement plan for further improvement and the department shall continue to monitor the plan.

(e) If, after two years of monitoring, the county or service delivery authority fails to meet both the minimum performance threshold and the improvement target identified in the performance improvement plan, the next step of the remedies process shall be invoked by the commissioner. This phase of the remedies process may include:

(1) fiscal penalties for the county or service delivery authority that do not exceed one percent of the county's human services expenditures and that are negotiated in the performance improvement plan, based on what is needed to improve outcomes. Counties or service delivery authorities must reinvest the amount of the fiscal penalty into the essential human services program that was underperforming. A county or service delivery authority shall not be required to pay more than three fiscal penalties in a year; and

(2) the department's provision of technical assistance to the county or service delivery authority that is targeted to address the specific performance issues.

The commissioner shall continue monitoring the performance improvement plan for a third year.

(f) If, after the third year of monitoring, the county or service delivery authority meets the minimum performance threshold, there is no further remedy. If the county or service delivery authority fails to meet the minimum performance threshold, but meets the improvement target for the performance improvement plan, the county or service delivery authority shall modify the performance improvement plan for further improvement and the department shall continue to monitor the plan.

(g) If, after the third year of monitoring, the county or service delivery authority fails to meet the minimum performance threshold and the improvement target identified in the performance improvement plan, the Human Services Performance Council shall review the situation and recommend a course of action to the commissioner.

(h) If the commissioner has determined that a program has a balanced set of program measures and a county or service delivery authority is subject to fiscal penalties for more than one-half of the measures for that program, the commissioner may apply further remedies as described in subdivisions 1 and 2.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 12.

new text begin ACTION PLAN TO INCREASE COMMUNITY INTEGRATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. new text end

new text begin The commissioners of human services, education, the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, employment and economic development, and information technology, in consultation with stakeholders, including lead agencies, shall develop a collaborative action plan in alignment with the state's Olmstead Plan to increase the community integration of people with disabilities, including housing, community living, and competitive employment. Priority must be given to actions that align policies and funding, streamline access to services, and increase efficiencies in interagency collaboration. Recommendations must include a proposed method to allow people with disabilities who access services from the state agencies identified in this section to access a unified record of the services they receive, using existing methods for unified records, where appropriate. This method must also allow people with disabilities to efficiently provide information to multiple agencies regarding service choices and preferences. Recommendations must be provided to the legislature by January 1, 2017, and include proposed statutory changes, including any changes necessary to the data practices act to allow for data sharing, and information technology solutions required to implement the actions. new text end

Sec. 13.

new text begin HOUSING SUPPORT SERVICES. new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Comprehensive housing support services. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall design comprehensive housing services to support an individual's ability to obtain or maintain stable housing. new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Goals. new text end

new text begin The proposal required in subdivision 3 shall support the following goals: new text end

new text begin (1) improve housing stability; new text end

new text begin (2) increase opportunities for integrated community living; new text end

new text begin (3) prevent and reduce homelessness new text end

new text begin (4) increase overall health and well-being of people with housing instability; and new text end

new text begin (5) reduce inefficient use of health care that may result from housing instability. new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Housing support services benefit set proposal. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner shall develop a proposal for housing support services, including, but not limited to, the following components: new text end

new text begin (1) housing transition services that include, but are not limited to, tenant screening and housing assessment; developing an individualized housing support plan; assisting with housing search and application process; identifying resources to cover onetime moving expenses; ensuring new living environment is safe and ready for move-in; assisting in arranging for and supporting details of the move; developing a housing support crisis plan; and payment for accessibility modifications to new housing; and new text end

new text begin (2) housing and tenancy sustaining services that include, but are not limited to, prevention and early identification of behaviors that may jeopardize continued housing; training on the roles, rights, and responsibilities of tenant and landlord; coaching to develop and maintain key relationships with landlords and property managers; advocacy and linkage with community resources to prevent eviction when housing is at risk; assistance with housing recertification processes; coordination with tenant to review; update and modify housing support and crisis plan on a regular basis; and continuing training on tenant responsibilities, lease compliance, or household management. new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner shall seek all federal authority and funding necessary to implement the proposal. new text end

new text begin (c) Implementation is contingent upon legislative approval of the proposal under this subdivision. new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Legislative update. new text end

new text begin By February 1, 2017, the commissioner shall present an update on the progress of the proposal to members of the legislative committees in the house of representatives and senate with jurisdiction over health and human services policy and finance on the progress of the proposal and shall make recommendations on statutory changes and state appropriations necessary to implement the proposal. new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Stakeholder input. new text end

new text begin In developing the proposal, the commissioner shall consult with stakeholders, including people who may utilize the service, advocates, providers, counties, tribes, health plans, and landlords. new text end

ARTICLE 4

MINNESOTA ELIGIBILITY SYSTEM EXECUTIVE STEERING COMMITTEE

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2015 Supplement, section 62V.03, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Application of other law.

(a) MNsure must be reviewed by the legislative auditor under section 3.971. The legislative auditor shall audit the books, accounts, and affairs of MNsure once each year or less frequently as the legislative auditor's funds and personnel permit. Upon the audit of the financial accounts and affairs of MNsure, MNsure is liable to the state for the total cost and expenses of the audit, including the salaries paid to the examiners while actually engaged in making the examination. The legislative auditor may bill MNsure either monthly or at the completion of the audit. All collections received for the audits must be deposited in the general fund and are appropriated to the legislative auditor. Pursuant to section 3.97, subdivision 3a, the Legislative Audit Commission is requested to direct the legislative auditor to report by March 1, 2014, to the legislature on any duplication of services that occurs within state government as a result of the creation of MNsure. The legislative auditor may make recommendations on consolidating or eliminating any services deemed duplicative. The board shall reimburse the legislative auditor for any costs incurred in the creation of this report.

(b) Board members of MNsure are subject to sections 10A.07 and 10A.09. Board members and the personnel of MNsure are subject to section 10A.071.

(c) All meetings of the board new text begin and of the Minnesota Eligibility System Executive Steering Committee established under section 62V.055 new text end shall comply with the open meeting law in chapter 13D.

(d) The board and the Web site are exempt from chapter 60K. Any employee of MNsure who sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance to individuals or small employers must be licensed as an insurance producer under chapter 60K.

(e) Section 3.3005 applies to any federal funds received by MNsure.

(f) A MNsure decision that requires a vote of the board, other than a decision that applies only to hiring of employees or other internal management of MNsure, is an "administrative action" under section 10A.01, subdivision 2.

Sec. 2.

new text begin [62V.055] MINNESOTA ELIGIBILITY SYSTEM EXECUTIVE STEERING COMMITTEE. new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definition; Minnesota eligibility system. new text end

new text begin For purposes of this section, "Minnesota eligibility system" means the system that supports eligibility determinations using a modified adjusted gross income methodology for medical assistance under section 256B.056, subdivision 1a, paragraph (b), clause (1); MinnesotaCare under chapter 256L; and qualified health plan enrollment under section 62V.05, subdivision 5, paragraph (c). new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Establishment; committee membership; costs. new text end

new text begin (a) The Minnesota Eligibility System Executive Steering Committee is established to provide recommendations to the MNsure board, the commissioner of human services, and the commissioner of MN.IT services on the governance, administration, and business operations of the Minnesota eligibility system. The steering committee shall be composed of: new text end

new text begin (1) two members appointed by the commissioner of human services; new text end

new text begin (2) two members appointed by the board; new text end

new text begin (3) two members appointed jointly by the Association of Minnesota Counties, the Minnesota Inter-County Association, and the Minnesota Association of County Social Service Administrators. One member appointed under this clause shall represent counties within the seven-county metropolitan area, and one member shall represent counties outside the seven-county metropolitan area; and new text end

new text begin (4) two nonvoting members appointed by the commissioner of MN.IT services. new text end

new text begin (b) One member appointed by the commissioner of human services and one member appointed by the commissioner of MN.IT services shall serve as co-chairpersons for the steering committee. new text end

new text begin (c) Steering committee costs must be paid from the budgets of the Department of Human Services, the Office of MN.IT Services, and MNsure. new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin The Minnesota Eligibility System Executive Steering Committee shall provide recommendations on an overall governance structure for the Minnesota eligibility system and the ongoing administration and business operations of the Minnesota eligibility system. The steering committee shall make recommendations on setting system goals and priorities, allocating the system's resources, making major system decisions, and tracking total funding and expenditures for the system from all sources. The steering committee shall also report to the Legislative Oversight Committee on a quarterly basis on Minnesota eligibility system funding and expenditures, including amounts received in the most recent quarter by funding source and expenditures made in the most recent quarter by funding source. new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Meetings. new text end

new text begin (a) All meetings of the steering committee must: new text end

new text begin (1) be held in the State Office Building, the Minnesota Senate Building, or when approved by the Legislative Oversight Committee, another public location with the capacity to live stream steering committee meetings; and new text end

new text begin (2) whenever possible, be made available on a Web site for live audio or video streaming and be archived on a Web site for playback at a later time. new text end

new text begin (b) The steering committee must: new text end

new text begin (1) as part of every steering committee meeting, provide the opportunity for oral and written public testimony and comments on steering committee recommendations for the governance, administration, and business operations of the Minnesota eligibility system; and new text end

new text begin (2) provide documents under discussion or review by the steering committee to be electronically posted on MNsure's Web site. Documents must be provided and posted prior to the meeting at which the documents are scheduled for review or discussion. new text end

new text begin (c) All votes of the steering committee must be recorded, with each member's vote identified. new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Administrative structure. new text end

new text begin The Office of MN.IT Services shall be responsible for the design, build, maintenance, operation, and upgrade of the information technology for the Minnesota eligibility system. In carrying out its duties, the office shall consider recommendations made by the steering committee. new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 62V.11, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Review of Minnesota eligibility system funding and expenditures. new text end

new text begin The committee shall review quarterly reports submitted by the Minnesota Eligibility System Executive Steering Committee under section 62V.055, subdivision 3, regarding Minnesota eligibility system funding and expenditures. new text end

Presented to the governor May 22, 2016

Signed by the governor May 22, 2016, 5:05 p.m.

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes