1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to health; providing medical assistance coverage for violence prevention
1.3 services; requiring initial and final reports on violence prevention services;
1.4 amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.0625, by adding a subdivision;
1.5 proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 256B.
1.6BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.7 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.0625, is amended by adding a subdivision
1.8to read:
1.9 Subd. 77.Violence prevention services.Medical assistance covers violence prevention
1.10services, as provided in section 256B.0762.
1.11 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective January 1, 2026.
1.12 Sec. 2. [256B.0762] VIOLENCE PREVENTION SERVICES.
1.13 Subdivision 1.Definitions.(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions
1.14apply.
1.15 (b) "Provider" means a violence prevention services provider that meets the standards
1.16established by the Health Alliance for Violence Intervention or an equivalent accrediting
1.17organization.
1.18 (c) "Violence prevention services" means services provided to promote improved health
1.19outcomes and positive behavioral and environmental change, prevent injury and recidivism,
1.20and reduce the likelihood that individuals who are victims of community violence will
1.21commit or promote violence themselves.
1Sec. 2.
REVISOR AGW/KR 25-0150812/19/24
State of Minnesota
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. F. No. 685
NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
Authored by Frazier02/13/2025
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Health Finance and Policy 2.1 (d) "Violence prevention professional" means an individual certified by the Health
2.2Alliance for Violence Intervention or an equivalent accrediting organization to provide
2.3violence prevention services.
2.4 Subd. 2.Provider requirements.To be eligible to receive reimbursement for the
2.5provision of violence prevention services, a provider must:
2.6 (1) meet qualifications to bill as a medical assistance provider or to provide services
2.7under contract with a medical assistance provider;
2.8 (2) ensure that all supervisors of violence prevention professionals have been certified
2.9by the Health Alliance for Violence Intervention or an equivalent accrediting organization
2.10as violence prevention professionals and have been providing violence prevention services
2.11for a minimum of two years; and
2.12 (3) show and maintain evidence that all violence prevention professionals employed by
2.13or under contract with the provider are certified by the Health Alliance for Violence
2.14Intervention or an equivalent accrediting organization.
2.15 Subd. 3.Settings.Violence prevention services may be provided in any setting.
2.16 Subd. 4.Recipient eligibility; criteria for coverage of services.(a) To be eligible for
2.17violence prevention services, a recipient must:
2.18 (1) have received medical treatment for an injury sustained due to an act of community
2.19violence or be experiencing physical or mental illness symptoms due to exposure to
2.20community violence;
2.21 (2) be referred for violence prevention services, as part of a determination of medical
2.22necessity and coverage, by a physician or other qualified licensed health care practitioner
2.23based on a determination that the recipient is at elevated risk of a violent injury or retaliation
2.24resulting from another act of community violence; and
2.25 (3) meet the criteria in the Minnesota health care programs provider manual for enrollee
2.26eligibility for violence prevention services.
2.27 (b) The services recommended through referral under paragraph (a), clause (2), must:
2.28 (1) meet the criteria for preventive services as specified in Code of Federal Regulations,
2.29title 42, section 440.130(c);
2.30 (2) be within the practitioner's scope of practice under state law; and
2Sec. 2.
REVISOR AGW/KR 25-0150812/19/24 3.1 (3) be designed to prevent further impacts of community violence, prevent future
3.2community violence, prolong life, and promote the physical and mental health of the
3.3individual.
3.4 Subd. 5.Payment rate.(a) Effective January 1, 2026, the violence prevention services
3.5rate for services provided by a certified violence prevention professional must be at least
3.6$25 for each 15-minute unit of service. This rate must be adjusted annually for inflation as
3.7provided in subdivision 6.
3.8 (b) Services eligible for coverage as violence prevention services include:
3.9 (1) screening;
3.10 (2) assessment of needs;
3.11 (3) development of an individualized service plan;
3.12 (4) peer support;
3.13 (5) counseling, including counseling to address and mitigate the impacts of trauma;
3.14 (6) mentorship;
3.15 (7) conflict mediation;
3.16 (8) crisis intervention;
3.17 (9) patient education;
3.18 (10) discharge planning;
3.19 (11) documentation;
3.20 (12) transportation necessary to access services;
3.21 (13) care coordination services meeting the criteria in paragraph (c); and
3.22 (14) any additional services listed as violence prevention services in the Minnesota
3.23health care programs provider manual.
3.24 (c) Care coordination services must be part of community violence prevention services
3.25and must facilitate the recipient's access to appropriate services, including medical, behavioral
3.26health, social, and other necessary services. These services must be designed to prevent
3.27further impacts of community violence, prevent future community violence, prolong life,
3.28and promote the recipient's physical and mental health, in accordance with the individualized
3.29service plan.
3Sec. 2.
REVISOR AGW/KR 25-0150812/19/24 4.1 Subd. 6.Rate adjustments.Effective for rate years beginning on or after January 1,
4.22027, the commissioner shall adjust payment rates for violence prevention services annually
4.3for inflation using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Medicare Economic
4.4Index, as forecasted in the second quarter of the calendar year before the rate year. The
4.5inflation adjustment must be based on the 12-month period from the midpoint of the previous
4.6rate year to the midpoint of the rate year for which the rate is being determined.
4.7 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective January 1, 2026.
4.8 Sec. 3. REPORT ON VIOLENCE PREVENTION SERVICES.
4.9 (a) The commissioner of human services shall report on medical assistance coverage of
4.10violence prevention services to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative
4.11committees with jurisdiction over health and human services finance and policy. The
4.12commissioner shall submit an initial report by February 1, 2028, and a final report by
4.13February 1, 2029.
4.14 (b) The reports must include but are not limited to:
4.15 (1) a list of the violence prevention service providers in Minnesota and the number of
4.16service recipients;
4.17 (2) the estimated return on investment, including health care savings due to reduced
4.18hospitalizations;
4.19 (3) the percentage of client goals met;
4.20 (4) follow-up information, if available, on whether repeat violent injuries decreased
4.21since violence prevention services were provided, compared to the period before the services
4.22were provided; and
4.23 (5) any other information that can be used to determine the effectiveness of violence
4.24prevention services and their funding, including recommendations for improvements to
4.25medical assistance coverage of violence prevention services.
4Sec. 3.
REVISOR AGW/KR 25-0150812/19/24