The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 62Q.096, to extend the requirement for health plan companies to credential and contract with certain providers of mental health services. It mandates that if a health plan company has initially credentialed individual providers from specific entities, they must continue to credential at least the same number of providers from those entities, provided the providers meet the company's credentialing standards. The bill also emphasizes the importance of timely access to mental health services by allowing health plan companies to waive certain credentialing requirements that do not directly relate to quality of care, particularly for providers from underserved communities or rural areas.

Additionally, the bill removes a specific time frame for credentialing requirements that was previously set between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2025. It introduces new provisions that prevent health plan companies from refusing to credential providers based on the sufficiency of their existing provider network. The bill includes an effective date that retroactively applies from June 30, 2025, ensuring that the changes are implemented promptly.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 62Q.096