Minnesota law sets provider checks and behavioral health licensing rules

The commissioner checks medical assistance providers before enrollment and during later reviews. These requirements apply to providers seeking or holding medical assistance enrollment. Additional checks apply to providers classified as moderate or high risk. Providers must enroll each location they control where they give direct services, except for services in a person's home or community setting, telehealth from an enrolled site, and other federally allowed cases. Moderate- and high-risk providers must allow unannounced site visits. The commissioner must inspect their enrolled locations before enrollment, reenrollment, and revalidation. The commissioner checks providers before enrollment and periodically afterward. Most providers are rechecked at least every five years; several listed provider types are rechecked at least every three years.

The state requires licenses for several nonresidential behavioral health services. The licensing requirements cover providers of the listed nonresidential mental health and substance use disorder services. The services include adult rehabilitative mental health care, children's community therapy and day treatment, crisis response, and certified community behavioral health clinic services. Certified providers that applied before January 1, 2028, may keep operating until the commissioner decides their applications. The commissioner begins issuing licenses July 1, 2027. The licensing requirement starts January 1, 2028.

The commissioner limits billing for selected home and community-based services. The limits cover selected services for people receiving disability waiver or other home and community-based care. Limits apply to each listed service and do not by themselves prevent a person from using other eligible services during the same period. The commissioner must approve an exception to the early intensive developmental and behavioral intervention limits when extra services are medically necessary. Most listed limits start January 1, 2027, or when federal approval arrives, whichever is later. Early intensive developmental and behavioral intervention limits start July 1, 2027, or upon federal approval, whichever is later.

The commissioner provides one-time wage payments to eligible nursing home workers. The payments are for qualifying nursing home employees who apply and meet the work and pay requirements. Workers must have worked at least 260 hours for a covered nursing home employer between January 1 and June 30, 2026. Workers paid below the January 1, 2026, wage standards may receive up to $400; other eligible workers may receive up to $200. If funding is insufficient, payments are reduced and distributed equally under the law's priority rules. The qualifying work period runs from January 1 through June 30, 2026. The commissioner must open applications as soon as practicable after enactment.