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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. |
People served through our BHH services programs
The number of individuals served by our BHH services providers since 2016 has reached 10,671 individuals as of April 2023.
State Plan Amendment updates approved
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approved the proposed changes to the BHH services State Plan Amendment (SPA). Key changes include: *
- Clarified and added language resulting from the 2019 legislative changes (see memo for reference to the 2019 changes); and *
- Added the variance authority that exists in state law to the State Plan. Specifically, the changes will allow flexibility to the BHH services provider requirements, provider training and practice transformation requirements, staff qualifications (including the required qualifications for the Integration Specialist based on the setting requirement), and service delivery standards.
There is a memo about these changes posted on the BHH services website under Forms and resources for certified BHH services providers. Thank you for your continued commitment to the people we serve. If you have any questions, contact us at Behavioral.Health.Home.Services@state.mn.us
Identified supports for members receiving BHH services
DHS has clarified the meaning of “identified supports” used in BHH services and clarified the requirement to maintain contact with a member’s “identified supports” at least once per month to bill for BHH services. Follow the new requirements outlined in February 2023 Memo recently emailed to BHH services providers
Rights, responsibilities and consent form
The Department of Health and Human Services is planning for the federal public health emergency for COVID-19, declared under Section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, to expire at the end of the day on May 11, 2023. Therefore, BHH services providers will have until the end of the day on May 11, 2023 to continue receiving verbal consent for the BHH Rights, Responsibilities and Consent (DHS-4797B) (PDF). You must obtain written consent for the BHH Rights, Responsibilities, and Consent form starting May 12, 2023. However, there is also the option to submit a variance request for this requirement. If you wish to submit a variance request, please submit the BHH services variance request (DHS-8026) (PDF). A policy memo (as well as an addendum policy memo) regarding this matter is posted within the Communication archives on the BHH services website. The addendum memo content regarding retroactive written consent and electronic signatures is as follows:
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Retroactive written consent not required- BHH services providers are not required to retroactively collect written signatures for participants that provided verbal consent for the BHH Services Rights, Responsibilities and Consent (DHS-4797B) during the public health emergency. Starting May 12, 2023, BHH services providers can no longer accept verbal consent and will need to obtain written consent from participants using the BHH Services Rights, Responsibilities and Consent (DHS-4797B) (PDF).
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Electronic signature for BHH services consent form - Written consent includes the option of electronic written consent (Minn. Stat. 645.44, subd. 14 and Minn. Stat. 325L). BHH services providers will need to check with their compliance or legal staff about how to properly obtain electronic signatures. DHS cannot advise on the procedure for obtaining electronic signatures.
BHH Services Rate Review
DHS has contracted with an outside vendor to do a rate review on multiple services and has recently added Behavioral Health Home (BHH) Services as part of that rate study.
The vendor for the rate study needs five BHH services providers to participate in a workgroup to gain valuable information about the service. A mixture of providers from urban and rural communities are needed as part of the chosen five. DHS staff will have that need in mind as interested providers are considered for the workgroup.
The workgroup starts in April 2023 and may run through mid-June. The workgroup will meet 4 to 5 times for about 1-1.5 hours each over the course of April through June. There will be an expectation that if a provider commits to being part of the workgroup that they will have at least one representative at each meeting. For more information on this rate study, see MHCP Outpatient Services Rates Study.
Highlights from the front lines
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New BHH services provider: Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge
Staff from Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge BHH services team wrote the following spotlight:
Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge’s (MNTC) mission is to assist men, women and teens in gaining freedom from chemical addictions and other life-controlling problems by addressing their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs. We offer effective team-based and affordable programs throughout Minnesota with campuses in Minneapolis, Brainerd, Duluth, Rochester and Buffalo. We have a broad spectrum of treatment and quality recovery programs: Outpatient (telehealth and in-person), licensed residential (30-90 days), long-term recovery program (12 months), teen residential (6-12 months) and ongoing recovery and alumni services, allowing us to effectively serve individuals with a broad spectrum of addiction issues… from those seeking treatment for the first time, to those who have been struggling with addiction for many years.
Recently, MNTC became a certified behavioral health home provider. As a behavioral health home provider, MNTC integrates a diverse interdisciplinary team of professionals including registered nurses, licensed drug and alcohol counselors, professional mental health counselors, and peer recovery and support specialists. Our competent and qualified health care workers provide the highest standards of quality assurance by coordinating patient care, educating
on various health conditions, and providing a supportive environment to foster personal growth and wholeness. Furthermore, our behavioral health home services enable to us to provide continuity of care by assisting the individual in every phase of our program, whether it is entry in our residential programs or transitioning in the community with our aftercare program. Through careful and individualized action planning, connecting with social and community supports, and utilizing additional networks for aftercare, our clients are empowered to make informed decisions towards recovery and resiliency. All the services at Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge reinforce to our community, partners and clients that we are a solution to helping hurting people find freedom, hope and new beginnings!
Do you want to spotlight your BHH services team in this quarterly newsletter? If so, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact Behavioral.Health.Home.Services@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.
Save the Date! Commercial Tobacco Use and Recovery Among Individuals with Mental Illness or Addiction
The Lung Mind Alliance welcomes back Dr. Jill Williams from the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School-Division of Addiction Psychiatry, Rutgers University for this in-person seminar. FREE CEU’s for social work, licensed alcohol and drug counselor and licensed professional counselor.
Tobacco Treatment Specialist (TTS) Trainings
Join us for a free, working lunch with the Tobacco Educators Network! The American Lung Association will present resources from the Lung Mind Alliance including upcoming tobacco treatment specialist (TTS) trainings through the UMass Chan Medical School and walk through the certification and recertification process of becoming a certified TTS.
Date: May 9, 2023
Time: noon - 1:30 p.m.
Location: New Brighton Community Center, 400 10th St NW, Room 224, New Brighton
Please RSVP by May 2.
Instructions for gaining access to the MN Partner Portal:
Have your organization’s MN-ITS administrator create a profile for you.
Send the following information to Behavioral.Health.Home.Services@state.mn.us
- Name
- Email Address
- Work Phone
- MN-ITS 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.
Information on upcoming learning opportunities and available resources that may be helpful for BHH services providers
Learning Days Registration is still open!
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Learning Days is returning live and in person on May 18, 2023, from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. at River’s Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud, MN. The day will feature two keynote speakers, nine breakout sessions, and a special networking workshop led by health care homes practice improvement and integration specialists. |
Building collaborative relationships with other providers to address whole-person care and promote service sustainability
RSVP for Peer-to-Peer Networking - April 27 at Noon!
On April 27 at noon, Penny Danger-Fye and Kayla Witzman from St. Luke’s Health System will lead a one-hour networking session on “Mental Health Screening and Referral.” Take a break, grab your lunch, and catch up with your peers! RSVP at and St. Luke’s Health System will send the meeting invitation to you.
Contact us:
Behavioral.Health.Home.Services@state.mn.us
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