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This newsletter has been sent to all authorized representatives on each BHH services team. Please forward to other BHH services staff at your organization.
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News, programmatic updates, and useful information. |
Update for BHH services providers about the impact of Uniform Service Standards (USS)
The impact of USS on BHH services should be limited to changes in mental health staff definitions. You can see the conforming changes to BHH services law in Minnesota Statutes, 256B.0757, subdivision 4c. DHS recommends that providers carefully review the new 245I staff definitions that became effective July 1, 2022. BHH services standard 3E has been updated to reflect these changes. You can access the BHH services standards here: DHS-6766 BHH services provider standards (state.mn.us)
We have received questions about any impact to BHH services that may result from the USS treatment supervision requirements outlined in 245I.06, and the DHS BHH services policy team wants to note that supervision requirements depend on the professional and on the supervision requirements required as part of their role and/or license. However, BHH services is not a clinical mental health treatment service. Therefore BHH does not require the same ongoing clinical supervision for the professionals of the team that may be required if they were providing clinical mental health services. As a result, we’ve confirmed that 245I.06 does not apply to BHH services. (You can compare to where DHS does require supervision for services in 245I.011 and 256B.0671; you’ll note that BHH is not listed in it as an included service). The amount and frequency of supervision should be determined by the agency and the Integration Specialist (MH Professional, RN).
Clarifying eligibility requirements for BHH services: substance use disorders included
For BHH services eligibility, all ICD-10 mental, behavioral and neurological disorder diagnosis codes (F01 – F99) are allowed, and this includes any substance use disorder (SUD) diagnoses that fall within this range of codes. You can find this information on the Mental Health Diagnostic Code Ranges page in the Mental Health Care Programs (MHCP) provider manual: Mental Health Services - Mental Health Diagnostic Code Ranges (state.mn.us). We have clarified in our informational materials that BHH services is available to adults and children with a stand-alone substance use disorder diagnosis. You can access the updated materials at the following links:
Highlights from the front lines
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Future provider spotlight
Would you like to spotlight your BHH team in the next quarterly newsletter? We would love to hear from you and share your story. Please contact Sophie Burnevik at Sophie.Burnevik@state.mn.us.
Information related to the use of commercial tobacco products, and how to help people address their use of them.
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Did you know that, according to the American Lung Association, tobacco use is the number one cause of death in people with mental illness? Not only that, but it also affects people with mental illness at alarmingly disparate rates compared to the general population. This section will provide ongoing information related to commercial tobacco products and how to help people address their use of them.
Addressing Tobacco Use among Individuals with Mental Illness and/or Substance Use Disorders
A four-part webinar series for Minnesota behavioral health professionals; up to 6 CEUs available
Hosted by Lung Mind Alliance
Presented by Jill Williams, MD, Director, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School – Division of Addiction Psychiatry
Slides can be downloaded from the resources dropdown tab at these recording links:
Webinar 1: Tobacco Use and Behavioral Health: Overview
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the prevalence of tobacco use among those with mental illness and/or substance use disorders
- Understand the impact of tobacco use on this population
- Recognize the roll of mental health and substance use disorder professionals in addressing tobacco
Webinar 2: Clinical Assessment of Tobacco Use Disorder and Withdrawal
- Understand the importance of assessment and documentation as a clinical activity
- Understand how to measure and assess the severity of a person’s tobacco use disorder
- Understand how to match treatment strategies to the client’s motivational level
Webinar 3: Evidence-Based Treatment with Counseling and Medication
- Understand counseling techniques that can be used in tobacco treatment
- Understand NRT and other medications to consider for first-line tobacco treatment
- Understand treatment approaches for people not ready to quit
Webinar 4: Developing Supportive Organizational Policy
- Understand the benefits and perceived obstacles to creating a tobacco-free environment for mental health and addiction programs
- Understand the steps an organization can take toward implementing tobacco-free grounds or implementing tobacco-treatment into their program
- Understand resources available in MN to help you and your organization make such policy and procedural changes
Instructions for gaining access to the MN Partner Portal:
Have your organization’s MNIT administrator create a profile for you
Send the following information to megan.seifert@state.mn.us:
- User Name
- Email Address
- Work Phone
- MNIT User Name
You will receive a follow-up email letting you know when access has been granted. The email will include resources to support you in using the partner portal.
Building collaborative relationships with other providers to address whole-person care & promote service sustainability
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“Meet and greet” for BHH services providers and representatives from managed care organizations
On May 5, 2022, the Department of Human Services (DHS) Behavioral Health Home (BHH) services policy team hosted a “meet-and-greet” for BHH services providers and representatives from managed care organizations (MCOs) across Minnesota. Participants had an opportunity for individual introductions, including asking each participant to share a community partnership or resource they find valuable in their work. After the event, the DHS team compiled and sent the mentioned resources to all participants. In addition, the meet and greet made available an opportunity for the DHS BHH services policy team to provide a brief overview of BHH services and the role of communication between MCOs and BHH services providers. DHS employees also reviewed the new BHH services language in the 2022 MCO contracts and encouraged questions and discussion. A copy of this presentation will be posted to the DHS website. Thanks to all who participated!
Collaboration with Managed Care Organizations
Regular communication and coordination between BHH services providers and MCOs ensures that an individual’s services and activities are coordinated to most effectively meet the goals of the person, and to avoid duplication between the MCO and the BHH services provider.
In an effort to improve communication and collaboration between BHH services providers and representatives of MCOs, DHS added new language in the BHH services portion of the 2022 MCO contracts. This new language requires that if an MCO has assigned a care coordinator or case manager for an enrollee in BHH services, the care coordinator must respond to the BHH services provider upon receiving notice of enrollment.
You can access the new language in all of the BHH services section of the MCO contracts by doing the following:
The DHS BHH services policy team has created two additional resources for providers and MCOs:
- A guidance document outlining some best practices for communication and collaboration between BHH services providers and MCOs. You can find this document on our website at the following link: BHH Services MCO Roles and Responsibilities (mn.gov); and
- The BHH services MCO contact list which provides contact information for MCOs that providers can utilize to contact a person’s care coordinator, locate where to send the notification of eligibility form and more. You can find this document on our website at the following link: BHH Services MCO Contact Information (mn.gov).
Behavioral.Health.Home.Services@state.mn.us
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