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Bill would let certain licensed clinicians perform comprehensive SUD assessments to address workforce gaps
Summary
House File 1993 narrows a prior proposal to allow additional licensed mental‑health professionals and APRNs to conduct comprehensive substance‑use disorder assessments (ASAM-aligned) in Medicaid‑funded SUD programs to increase access, especially in rural areas; the committee adopted author changes and laid the bill over.
Representative Frederick introduced House File 1993, which would allow qualified licensed mental-health professionals and advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) to perform comprehensive substance‑use disorder (SUD) assessments under ASAM standards in 245G Medicaid‑funded SUD programs. The A1 amendment clarifies scope and training expectations and replaces a prior draft that relied solely on LADCs.
Ginlee Palin, executive director of the Minnesota Association of Community Mental Health Programs, and Ashley Chose of Woodland Centers said the change would better use clinical staff capacity in integrated clinics and reduce wait times for assessments, especially in rural areas. Chose described a compromise reached among three provider associations to narrow the bill to comprehensive assessments only, aligning Minnesota statute with ASAM’s multi-dimensional evaluation approach that entrusts qualified clinicians within their scope to conduct assessments.
Sadie Brockmeier, a Meritap board member and rural treatment provider, gave a real-world example of three walk-in assessment requests arriving simultaneously and said mental-health clinicians could have filled immediate assessment needs if permitted under statute.
Supporters said the change is intended to increase timely access to SUD care by using existing qualified staff in treatment programs and to reduce waiting lists; the committee adopted the A1 amendment and laid the bill over.
