This bill seeks to establish new payment rates for substance use disorder treatment services in Minnesota and to recodify vendor eligibility for payments from the behavioral health fund. It amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, specifically section 254B.05, by introducing new subdivisions that detail the requirements for payment rates and eligibility for enhanced payment rates. A significant change is the implementation of a base year payment rate structure effective January 1, 2026, which will set specific payment rates for various levels of care, including outpatient and residential treatment services. The bill also mandates annual adjustments to these rates starting January 1, 2027, based on the Medicare Economic Index.

Additionally, the bill provides for enhanced payment rates for programs offering specific services, such as on-site child care and culturally responsive programs, and allows for telehealth services while establishing client-to-staff ratio requirements for group treatment settings. It includes provisions for monitoring the impact of rate increases on access to behavioral health services and requires adjustments to capitation rates for managed care plans if federal approval is not obtained. The bill also instructs the revisor of statutes to make necessary cross-reference changes and technical adjustments to ensure consistency with the new numbering system and to remove outdated statutory references.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 254B.05, 256B.761