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245.488 OUTPATIENT SERVICES.
    Subdivision 1. Availability of outpatient services. (a) County boards must provide or
contract for enough outpatient services within the county to meet the needs of each child with
emotional disturbance residing in the county and the child's family. Services may be provided
directly by the county through county-operated mental health centers or mental health clinics
approved by the commissioner under section 245.69, subdivision 2; by contract with privately
operated mental health centers or mental health clinics approved by the commissioner under
section 245.69, subdivision 2; by contract with hospital mental health outpatient programs
certified by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospital Organizations; or by contract with
a licensed mental health professional as defined in section 245.4871, subdivision 27, clauses (1)
to (4). A child or a child's parent may be required to pay a fee based in accordance with section
245.481. Outpatient services include:
(1) conducting diagnostic assessments;
(2) conducting psychological testing;
(3) developing or modifying individual treatment plans;
(4) making referrals and recommending placements as appropriate;
(5) treating the child's mental health needs through therapy; and
(6) prescribing and managing medication and evaluating the effectiveness of prescribed
medication.
(b) County boards may request a waiver allowing outpatient services to be provided in a
nearby trade area if it is determined that the child requires necessary and appropriate services that
are only available outside the county.
(c) Outpatient services offered by the county board to prevent placement must be at the level
of treatment appropriate to the child's diagnostic assessment.
    Subd. 2. Specific requirements. The county board shall require that a service provider
of outpatient services to children:
(1) meets the professional qualifications contained in sections 245.487 to 245.4887;
(2) uses a multidisciplinary mental health professional staff including, at a minimum,
arrangements for psychiatric consultation, licensed psychologist consultation, and other necessary
multidisciplinary mental health professionals;
(3) develops individual treatment plans; and
(4) provides initial appointments within three weeks, except in emergencies where there
must be immediate access as described in section 245.4879.
    Subd. 3. Mental health crisis services. County boards must provide or contract for mental
health crisis services within the county to meet the needs of children with emotional disturbance
residing in the county who are determined, through an assessment by a mental health professional,
to be experiencing a mental health crisis or mental health emergency. The mental health crisis
services provided must be medically necessary, as defined in section 62Q.53, subdivision 2, and
necessary for the safety of the child or others regardless of the setting.
History: 1989 c 282 art 4 s 47; 1990 c 568 art 2 s 39; 1991 c 255 s 19; 1991 c 292 art 6 s 58
subd 1; 1993 c 339 s 4; 1Sp2001 c 9 art 9 s 16; 2002 c 379 art 1 s 113; 1Sp2003 c 14 art 11 s 11

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes