h. Mental health summary

Mental health summary 2021, 1st Special Session HF33/SF37 Chapter 7, various articles & sections HHS omnibus bill Effective: Various

Short description A number of important changes for persons with mental health issues and providers of their services were incorporated into the final HHS omnibus bill.

Summary • Mental health workforce: Expanding our mental health workforce, increase its diversity, and have it be more culturally informed were key priorities; there is a funding increase for loan forgiveness programs and expanding it to LADCs, cultural and regional diversity standards for licensing boards, including cultural competency in continuing education standards for mental health professionals, paying for BIPOC mental health professionals to become supervisors, creating a Culturally-Informed and Culturally-Responsive Mental Health Task Force, and other key items • Sober home study: Commissions a study to increase access to sober homes, ensure that sober home residents have basic consumer protections, and consider whether statewide oversight of sober homes is appropriate • Crisis teams: Requires 911 to include referrals to mobile mental health crisis teams where available • Telehealth: Key changes include removing the weekly cap on telehealth visits under public health programs, allowing for people to access telehealth services through a telephone or other audio-only platforms through July 1, 2023, ensuring that telehealth services are reimbursed at the same rate as in person treatment, and other changes • Homelessness: Substantial investment in emergency shelters and housing supports (GRH) providers that benefit people experiencing homelessness • Mobile crisis: Appropriates over $16 million in one-time funding over three years to expand access to mobile crisis services • Dental care: Restores the coverage of periodontal dental surgery under Medical Assistance—this will reduce the reliance on emergency dental care and will be especially beneficial for people with mental illnesses whose medications cause drymouth • 911 workgroup: This workgroup (which includes a mental health provider) will look at training and standards for 911

• CADI waiver: Bill to suspend, not terminate, the CADI waiver when someone is hospitalized or in residential treatment (See additional article on CADI changes for more information)

For more specific information, you can go to National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI) website: https://namimn.org/advocacy-and-laws/legislative-updates/.

Implications If you provide services to those who have mental health Issues, you should be aware of the changes in mental health policy and payment.

Bill language https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/2021/1/Session+Law/Chapter/7/