The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 62Q.096, to extend the requirement for health plan companies to credential and contract with certain mental health service providers. Specifically, it mandates that if a health plan company has initially credentialed individual providers from a qualifying entity—such as a certified mental health clinic or an essential community provider—it must continue to credential at least the same number of providers from that entity, provided they meet the company's credentialing standards.

Additionally, the bill removes a time limitation that previously required this credentialing to occur between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2025. It establishes that health plan companies must credential any provider of mental health services who meets the company's credentialing requirements, agrees to contract terms, and is accepting new patients, while also allowing for waivers of certain credentialing requirements to improve access for underserved communities or rural areas. Furthermore, health plan companies cannot refuse to credential these providers based on the sufficiency of their existing provider network.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 62Q.096
1st Engrossment: 62Q.096