Dear Neighbors,
The Legislature is on its spring recess this week in observance of Easter and Passover. Business at the Capitol resumes on Tuesday, April 23, at which point we’ll begin voting on the major components of our Minnesota Values Budget.
I’ve been spending time in the district and around the metro meeting with folks to discuss their community priorities. As a member of the Health and Human Services Finance Committee, I’m proud to author the legislation that supports Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) in the long term. This bipartisan legislation has been incorporated into the final House Health and Human Services finance bill, which is scheduled for a vote on Wednesday next week.
Today I had an opportunity to tour one of the CCBHCs that really highlighted the value of the model, which combines substance use disorder treatment, mental health care, and a range of other services under one roof.
Before CCBHCs, rarely could someone obtain both mental health and substance use disorder treatment through the same agency. A person with a mental illness or substance use disorder typically would need to work with several providers to obtain different levels and types of care.
Stark Mental Health Clinic, on the other hand, provides a comprehensive set of mental health and substance use disorder services for both children and adults, including screening, assessment and diagnosis, treatment planning, and outpatient and rehabilitative services.
I joined Minnesota Human Services Commissioner Tony Lourey and my colleague Representative Hassan to visit People Incorporated’s Stark Mental Health Clinic in Minneapolis to see one of the models in action and to hear from staff about the impact it is having. We heard about promising results statewide from CCBHCs, which served more than 17,000 children and adults in the first year of the pilot. Early results show improved access to care, reduced wait times, improved coordination, expanded scope of services, and improved ability to meet individual needs. |
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Additional providers are interested and ready to start providing CCBHC services, but current state law only allows the existing six clinics to continue operating under this model and payment structure after the federal demonstration period ends.
Keep in Touch
Please never hesitate to contact me any time with questions, feedback, or input. I appreciate hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Robert Bierman
State Representative |
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