1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to human services; modifying provisions governing psychiatric contract 
1.3 	beds;amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 256.9693.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 256.9693, is amended to read:
1.6 	256.9693 INPATIENT TREATMENT FOR MENTAL ILLNESS.
1.7 	The commissioner shall establish a continuing care benefit program for persons 
1.8 	with mental illness in which persons with mental illness may obtain acute care hospital 
1.9 	inpatient treatment for mental illness for up to 45 days beyond that allowed by section 
1.10 	256.969. The commissioner may authorize additional days beyond 45 based on an 
1.11 	individual review of medical necessity. The commissioner shall also authorize additional 
1.12 	days beyond 45 days based on the absence of appropriate level-of-care services operated 
1.13 	by the commissioner or services operated by or under contract with the commissioner or a 
1.14 	county agency. Persons with mental illness who are eligible for medical assistance may 
1.15 	obtain inpatient treatment under this program in hospital beds for which the commissioner 
1.16 	contracts under this section. The commissioner may selectively contract with hospitals 
1.17 	to provide this benefit through competitive bidding when reasonable geographic access 
1.18 	by recipients can be assured. Payments under this section shall not affect payments 
1.19 	under section 256.969. The commissioner may contract externally with a utilization 
1.20 	review organization to authorize persons with mental illness to access the continuing care 
1.21 	benefit program. The commissioner, as part of the contracts with hospitals, shall establish 
1.22 	admission criteria to allow persons with mental illness to access the continuing care benefit 
1.23 	program. If a court orders acute care hospital inpatient treatment for mental illness for a 
1.24 	person, the person may obtain the treatment under the continuing care benefit program. 
2.1 	The commissioner shall not require, as part of the admission criteria, any commitment or 
2.2 	petition under chapter 253B as a condition of accessing the program. This benefit is not 
2.3 	available for people who are also eligible for Medicare and who have not exhausted their 
2.4 	annual or lifetime inpatient psychiatric benefit under Medicare. If a recipient is enrolled in 
2.5 	a prepaid plan, this program is included in the plan's coverage.