House bill would lower eligibility barriers to mental health services

Mental health case management helps people with severe mental health issues keep their lives on track.

Case managers work with people to address the effects of housing instability, food insecurity, and other social determinants of health. The case manager assesses, plans, refers, coordinates and assists the person in gaining access to services.

As amended, HF2143 would modify the Adult Mental Health Act by expanding the criteria for a person with serious and persistent mental illness to receive mental health case management and community support services.

The House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee laid the bill over Wednesday for possible inclusion in a larger bill.

The proposed changes would lower the threshold of eligibility by reducing the number of required hospitalization from two to one within the past 12 months, add PTSD and trauma-related PTSD to the list of qualifying diagnosis, and extend the eligibility period of people who've been civilly committed from three to five years.

“This bill is about strengthening our mental health system with compassion, common sense, and equity,” said Rep. Huldah Momanyi-Hiltsley (DFL-Brooklyn Park), the bill sponsor. “It is designed to remove barriers that prevent people, especially those in rural, underserved and under-resourced communities from accessing the care that they need to stay well.”

The hope is to save money early on by helping people navigate everyday life while keeping them off more costly services.

“Case management is an investment on the front end that pays massive dividends on the back end,” said Rep. Kim Hicks (DFL-Rochester).

Jamie Hayes, director of human services for Le Sueur County, acknowledged the bill benefits but is concerned it would add another cost to already tight county budgets.

“Case management services are not funded by the state, rather counties pay the non-federal share for the services. … If the Legislature chooses to expand the population served by adult mental health initiatives, we would also encourage you to consider a proportional increase in funding for those services.”

Momanyi-Hiltsley said concerns of county officials are part of an ongoing conversation to improve the bill.

The bill would also expand audio-only telehealth under Medical Assistance for an additional three years, increase the reimbursement rates for protective transportation, and establish grants for early episode of bipolar disorder program and first episode of psychosis grant programs.