Minnesota Senate Bill SF1926

Minnesota 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/20/23
• Refer: 2/20/23

Caption

County payment modification for committed persons

Impact

The key provision of the bill is a modification of payment rates, whereby counties would initially carry no financial responsibility for the first 30 days of a person's commitment. After this period, they would have to pay 20% for subsequent days unless the individual is deemed clinically appropriate for discharge. This change is expected to have significant financial implications for county budgets, especially in cases where long-term care is necessary.

Summary

SF1926 aims to amend the Minnesota Statutes regarding county payments for care provided to committed individuals in state-operated community behavioral health hospitals. The bill modifies the payment structures related to costs of care depending on the duration of stay at facilities like the Anoka-Metro Regional Treatment Center. Under the proposed changes, counties would be responsible for only a portion of costs associated with the care for committed persons, particularly after the first 30 days of hospitalization or under specific conditions of clinical appropriateness for discharge.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding SF1926 include concerns regarding the fiscal responsibilities placed on counties and whether these changes would adequately balance the needs of mental health services with public safety. Critics may argue that such alterations could inadvertently restrict access to necessary treatments for individuals requiring long-term mental health support, while proponents assert that these adjustments would ensure efficient use of state resources without overburdening counties financially.