2026 Minnesota Statutes

245I.24 MOBILE CRISIS RESPONSE SERVICES.

Subdivision 1.Generally.

(a) Mobile crisis response services provide short-term, face-to-face mental health care in community settings for adults and children experiencing crisis to help individuals maintain safety and return to a baseline level of functioning.

(b) Beginning January 1, 2028, a provider of mobile crisis response services must be licensed under this section and chapter 245A.

Subd. 2.Definitions.

(a) For the purposes of this section, the terms in this subdivision have the meanings given.

(b) "Crisis assessment" means an immediate face-to-face assessment by a physician, a mental health professional, or a qualified member of a crisis team, as described in subdivision 5.

(c) "Crisis intervention" means face-to-face, short-term intensive mental health services initiated during a mental health crisis to help an individual cope with immediate stressors, identify and utilize available resources and strengths, engage in voluntary treatment, and begin to return to the individual's baseline level of functioning.

(d) "Crisis screening" means a screening of a client's potential mental health crisis situation under subdivision 6.

(e) "Crisis stabilization services" means individualized mental health services that are designed to restore an individual to the individual's baseline level of functioning. Crisis stabilization services may be provided in the individual's home, the home of a family member or friend of the individual, another community setting, a short-term supervised licensed residential program, or an emergency department. Crisis stabilization services include family psychoeducation.

(f) "Crisis team" means the staff of a provider entity who are supervised and prepared to provide mobile crisis services to a client in a potential mental health crisis situation.

(g) "Mental health crisis" is a behavioral, emotional, or psychiatric situation that, without the provision of crisis response services, would likely result in significantly reducing the individual's levels of functioning in primary activities of daily living, the individual needing emergency services under section 62Q.55, or the individual being placed in a more restrictive setting, including but not limited to inpatient hospitalization.

(h) "Mobile crisis services" means screening, assessment, intervention, and community-based crisis stabilization services that are provided to an individual client. Mobile crisis services does not include residential crisis stabilization.

Subd. 3.Eligibility.

(a) An individual is eligible for crisis assessment services when the person has screened positive for a potential mental health crisis during a crisis screening.

(b) An individual is eligible for crisis intervention services and crisis stabilization services when the individual has been assessed during a crisis assessment to be experiencing a mental health crisis.

Subd. 4.Policies, procedures, and practices specified.

(a) In addition to the policies and procedures required by section 245I.03, the license holder must establish, enforce, and maintain policies and procedures to:

(1) ensure that crisis screenings, crisis assessments, and crisis intervention services are available 24 hours per day, seven days per week;

(2) respond to a call for services in a designated service area or according to a written agreement with the local mental health authority for an adjacent area;

(3) have at least one mental health professional on staff at all times and at least one additional staff member capable of leading a crisis response in the community; and

(4) respond to clients in the community according to the requirements and priorities in subdivision 6.

(b) The license holder must provide the commissioner with information about the number of requests for service, the number of clients that the provider serves face-to-face, and client outcomes at least every six months, in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner.

(c) The license holder must:

(1) provide support for an individual's family and natural supports by enabling the individual's family and natural supports to observe and participate in the individual's treatment, assessments, and planning services;

(2) implement culturally specific treatment identified in the crisis treatment plan that is meaningful and appropriate, as determined by the individual's culture, beliefs, values, and language;

(3) respond to an individual's changing intervention and care needs, as identified by the individual or a family member; and

(4) have the communication tools and procedures to communicate and consult promptly about crisis assessment and interventions as services are provided.

(d) The license holder must coordinate services with:

(1) county emergency services under section 245.469, community hospitals, ambulance services, transportation services, social services, law enforcement, engagement services, and mental health crisis services through regularly scheduled interagency meetings;

(2) other behavioral health service providers, county mental health authorities, or federally recognized American Indian authorities, and others as necessary, with the consent of the individual or parent or guardian;

(3) detoxification, withdrawal management services, and medical stabilization services as needed; and

(4) the individual's case manager if the individual is receiving case management services.

Subd. 5.Crisis assessment and intervention staff qualifications.

(a) Crisis assessment and intervention services must be provided by:

(1) a mental health professional qualified under section 245I.04, subdivision 2;

(2) a clinical trainee qualified under section 245I.04, subdivision 6;

(3) a behavioral health practitioner qualified under section 245I.04, subdivision 4;

(4) a mental health certified family peer specialist qualified under section 245I.04, subdivision 12; or

(5) a mental health certified peer specialist qualified under section 245I.04, subdivision 10.

(b) When crisis assessment and intervention services are provided to an individual in the community, a mental health professional, clinical trainee, or mental health practitioner must lead the response.

(c) For providers under this section, the 30 hours of ongoing training required by section 245I.05, subdivision 4, paragraph (b), must be specific to providing crisis services to children and adults and include training about evidence-based practices identified by the commissioner of health to reduce the individual's risk of suicide and self-injurious behavior.

(d) At least six hours of the ongoing training under paragraph (c) must be specific to working with families and providing crisis stabilization services to children and include the following topics:

(1) developmental tasks of childhood and adolescence;

(2) family relationships;

(3) child and youth engagement and motivation, including motivational interviewing;

(4) culturally responsive care, including care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth;

(5) positive behavior support;

(6) crisis intervention for youth with developmental disabilities;

(7) child traumatic stress, trauma-informed care, and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy; and

(8) youth substance use.

(e) Individual providers must be experienced in crisis assessment, crisis intervention techniques, treatment engagement strategies, working with families, and clinical decision making under emergency conditions and have knowledge of local services and resources.

Subd. 6.Crisis screening.

(a) A license holder may use the resources of emergency services under section 245.469 for crisis screening. The crisis screening must gather information, determine whether a mental health crisis situation exists, identify parties involved, and determine an appropriate response.

(b) When conducting a crisis screening, a provider must:

(1) employ evidence-based practices to reduce the individual's risk of suicide and self-injurious behavior;

(2) work with the individual to establish a plan and time frame for responding to the individual's mental health crisis, including responding to the individual's immediate need for support by telephone or text message until the provider can respond to the individual face-to-face;

(3) document significant factors in determining whether the individual is experiencing a mental health crisis, including prior requests for crisis services, an individual's recent presentation at an emergency department, known calls to 911 or law enforcement, or information from third parties with knowledge of an individual's history or current needs;

(4) accept calls from interested third parties and consider the additional needs or potential mental health crises that the third parties may be experiencing;

(5) provide psychoeducation, including reducing access to means of suicide, to relevant third parties including family members or other persons living with the individual; and

(6) consider other available services to determine which service intervention would best address the individual's needs and circumstances.

(c) For the purposes of this section, the following situations indicate a positive screen for a potential mental health crisis:

(1) the individual presents at an emergency department or urgent care setting and the health care team at that location requested crisis services; or

(2) a peace officer requested crisis services for an individual who is potentially subject to transportation under section 253B.051.

(d) The provider must prioritize providing a face-to-face crisis assessment of the individual, unless a provider documents specific evidence to show why the face-to-face assessment was not possible, including insufficient staffing resources, concerns for staff or individual safety, or other clinical factors.

(e) A provider is not required to have direct contact with the individual to determine that the individual is experiencing a potential mental health crisis. A mobile crisis provider may gather relevant information about the individual from a third party to establish the individual's need for services and potential safety factors.

Subd. 7.Crisis assessment.

(a) If an individual screens positive for a potential mental health crisis, a crisis assessment must be completed. A crisis assessment must evaluate any immediate needs for which services are needed and, as time permits, the individual's:

(1) current life situation;

(2) health information, including current medications;

(3) sources of stress;

(4) mental health problems and symptoms;

(5) strengths;

(6) cultural considerations;

(7) support network;

(8) vulnerabilities;

(9) current functioning; and

(10) preferences, as communicated directly by the individual or as communicated in a health care directive as described in chapters 145C and 253B, the crisis treatment plan described in subdivision 11, a crisis prevention plan, or a wellness recovery action plan.

(b) A provider must conduct a crisis assessment at the individual's location when appropriate and, when not appropriate, document the reasons.

(c) Whenever possible, the assessor must attempt to include input from the individual, the individual's family, and other natural supports to assess whether a crisis exists.

(d) A crisis assessment must include a determination of:

(1) whether the individual is willing to voluntarily engage in treatment;

(2) whether the individual has an advance directive; and

(3) gathering the individual's information and history from involved family or other natural supports.

(e) If a team determines that the individual does not need an acute level of care, the team must provide services or service coordination if the individual has a co-occurring substance use disorder and is otherwise eligible for services.

(f) If, after completing a crisis assessment, a provider refers the individual to an intensive setting, including an emergency department, inpatient hospitalization, or residential crisis stabilization, one of the crisis team members who completed or conferred about the individual's crisis assessment must immediately contact the referral entity and consult with the staff responsible for triage or intake at the referral entity. During the consultation, the crisis team member must convey key findings or concerns that led to the individual's referral. Following the consultation, the provider must also send written documentation to the referral entity. The provider must document if the individual or the individual's legal guardian signed releases for health records or if an exception under section 144.293, subdivision 5, exists.

Subd. 8.Crisis intervention services.

(a) If the crisis assessment determines an individual needs mobile crisis intervention services, the license holder must provide crisis intervention services promptly. As able during the intervention, at least two members of the mobile crisis intervention team must confer directly or by telephone about the crisis assessment, crisis treatment plan, and actions taken and needed. At least one of the team members must be providing face-to-face crisis intervention services. If providing crisis intervention services, a clinical trainee or mental health practitioner must seek treatment supervision as required in subdivision 10.

(b) If a provider delivers crisis intervention services while the individual is absent, the provider must document the reason for delivering services while the individual is absent.

(c) The mobile crisis intervention team must develop a crisis treatment plan according to subdivision 11.

(d) The mobile crisis intervention team must document which crisis treatment plan goals and objectives have been met and when no further crisis intervention services are required.

(e) If the individual's mental health crisis is stabilized, but the individual needs a referral to other services, the team must provide referrals to these services. If the individual is unable to follow up on the referral, the team must link the individual to the service and follow up to ensure the individual is receiving the service.

Subd. 9.Crisis stabilization services.

(a) Crisis stabilization services must be provided by qualified staff of a crisis stabilization services provider entity, which must:

(1) develop a crisis treatment plan that meets the criteria in subdivision 11;

(2) complete a vulnerable adult determination in accordance with section 245A.65, subdivision 1a;

(3) deliver crisis stabilization services according to the crisis treatment plan and include face-to-face contact with the individual receiving services by qualified staff for further assessment, help with referrals, updating of the crisis treatment plan, skills training, and collaboration with other service providers in the community;

(4) if the provider delivers crisis stabilization services while the individual is absent, document the reason for delivering services while the individual is absent; and

(5) if the individual's mental health crisis is stabilized and the individual does not have a health care directive or psychiatric declaration, as defined in chapter 145C or section 253B.03, subdivision 6d, offer to work with the individual to develop a directive or declaration.

(b) A staff member providing crisis stabilization services must be:

(1) a mental health professional qualified under section 245I.04, subdivision 2;

(2) a certified rehabilitation specialist qualified under section 245I.04, subdivision 8;

(3) a clinical trainee qualified under section 245I.04, subdivision 6;

(4) a behavioral health practitioner qualified under section 245I.04, subdivision 4;

(5) a mental health certified family peer specialist qualified under section 245I.04, subdivision 12;

(6) a mental health certified peer specialist qualified under section 245I.04, subdivision 10; or

(7) a mental health rehabilitation worker qualified under section 245I.04, subdivision 14.

(c) For providers under this section, the 30 hours of ongoing training required in section 245I.05, subdivision 4, paragraph (b), must be specific to providing crisis services to children and adults and include training about evidence-based practices identified by the commissioner of health to reduce an individual's risk of suicide and self-injurious behavior.

(d) For providers who deliver care to children 21 years of age or younger, at least six hours of the ongoing training under this subdivision must be specific to working with families and providing crisis stabilization services to children, including the following topics:

(1) developmental tasks of childhood and adolescence;

(2) family relationships;

(3) child and youth engagement and motivation, including motivational interviewing;

(4) culturally responsive care, including care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth;

(5) positive behavior support;

(6) crisis intervention for youth with developmental disabilities;

(7) child traumatic stress, trauma-informed care, and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy; and

(8) youth substance use.

This paragraph does not apply to adult residential crisis stabilization services providers licensed under section 245I.23 or providing services pursuant to section 256B.0624, subdivision 7a.

Subd. 10.Supervision.

Clinical trainees and mental health practitioners may provide crisis assessment and crisis intervention services if the following treatment supervision requirements are met:

(1) the license holder must accept full responsibility for the services provided;

(2) a mental health professional working for the license holder must be immediately available by telephone or in person for treatment supervision;

(3) a mental health professional must be consulted, in person or by telephone, during the first three hours when a clinical trainee or mental health practitioner provides crisis assessment or crisis intervention services; and

(4) a mental health professional must:

(i) review and approve, as defined in section 245I.02, subdivision 2, the tentative crisis assessment and crisis treatment plan within 24 hours of first providing services to the individual, notwithstanding section 245I.08, subdivision 3; and

(ii) document the consultation required in clause (3).

Subd. 11.Crisis treatment plan.

(a) Within 24 hours of an individual's admission, the license holder must complete the individual's crisis treatment plan. The license holder must:

(1) base the individual's crisis treatment plan on the individual's crisis assessment;

(2) consider crisis assistance strategies that have been effective for the individual in the past;

(3) for a child, use a child-centered, family-driven, and culturally appropriate planning process that allows the child's parents and guardians to observe or participate in the child's individual and family treatment services, assessment, and treatment planning;

(4) for an adult, use a person-centered, culturally appropriate planning process that allows the individual's family and other natural supports to observe or participate in treatment services, assessment, and treatment planning;

(5) identify the participants involved in the individual's treatment planning. The individual must be a participant if possible;

(6) identify the individual's initial treatment goals, measurable treatment objectives, and specific interventions that the license holder will use to help the person engage in treatment;

(7) include documentation of referral to and scheduling of services, including specific providers where applicable;

(8) ensure that the individual or the individual's legal guardian approves under section 245I.02, subdivision 2, of the individual's crisis treatment plan unless a court orders the individual's treatment plan under chapter 253B. If the individual or the individual's legal guardian disagrees with the crisis treatment plan, the license holder must document in the client file the reasons why the individual disagrees with the crisis treatment plan; and

(9) ensure that a treatment supervisor approves, as defined in section 245I.02, subdivision 2, of the individual's treatment plan within 24 hours of the individual's admission if a mental health practitioner or clinical trainee completes the crisis treatment plan, notwithstanding section 245I.08, subdivision 3.

(b) The provider entity must provide the individual and the individual's legal guardian with a copy of the crisis treatment plan.

Subd. 12.Application requirements.

In a licensing application submitted under this section and section 245A.04, the applicant must demonstrate that the applicant is:

(1) enrolled as a medical assistance provider; and

(2) in compliance with the provider type requirements under section 256B.0624, subdivision 4, as determined by the commissioner.

History:

2026 c 121 art 7 s 39

NOTE: This section, as added by Laws 2026, chapter 121, article 7, section 39, is effective January 1, 2028. Laws 2026, chapter 121, article 7, section 56.