This bill seeks to enhance behavioral health services in Minnesota by integrating occupational therapy into the state's mental health service standards and children's mental health grants. It introduces new definitions for "occupational therapist" and "occupational therapy assistant," outlining their qualifications and scope of practice. The legislation expands treatment teams to include these professionals, allowing them to participate in intensive residential treatment and crisis stabilization services. Additionally, it mandates that licensed providers offer medically necessary occupational therapy services, thereby broadening therapeutic options for individuals receiving mental health care.

The bill also revises the qualifications for Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) teams, emphasizing the roles of various specialists, including vocational specialists and mental health certified peer specialists, while allowing for the inclusion of occupational therapists and assistants. It amends provisions related to adult day treatment services to include skilled occupational therapy, ensuring comprehensive care through group psychotherapy and rehabilitative interventions. Furthermore, the bill enhances the qualifications for individual providers and treatment teams, ensuring that at least one mental health professional or clinical trainee is part of day treatment teams, and expands the definition of covered services to include medically necessary occupational therapy for children, ultimately aiming to improve the quality and accessibility of mental health services for youth in Minnesota.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 245.4889, 245I.02, 245I.04, 245I.23, 256B.0622, 256B.0671, 256B.0941, 256B.0943, 256B.0947