MARRCH January 2016 Public Policy Committee Minutes
9:33The meeting was called to order.
9:37MRC Update; Monique’s last day is today as she is moving on to another opportunity. April 28th MRC is hosting a recovery seminar at Metro State. Keynote speaker will discuss culturally specific programming. MRC is working with White Bison to focus on 12 step training. A new year brings a new outlook on how MRC works. Dustin Chapman’s term ends as well as a part of MRC. Phil Rutherford from Recovery Happening in Rochester that serves 11 southeastern Minnesota counties. They do peer training and recovery coaching. They are opening a behavioral health community center to get services and receive help. This is opening in Rochester.
9:42DHS Update: Laura Kramer from DHS Licensing introduced herself and wanted to get to know what MARRCH and CD is all about.
Brian Zerbes from ADAD as well as Jeff Hunsbergerand Charlie Mishekprovided a brief presentation regarding communications the last few months on IMDs and the possibility for a waiver. Charlie Mishek mentioned California has an 1114 waiver. What California did to ask for a waiver is vastly different from what Minnesota would have to do. It takes a very long time for a waiver to be approved. California started the process as early as 2009 and finalized it in 2015. Any forecasted changes have to be neutral, and CMS is looking for cost savings and returns on investment. CMS is requiring care coordination be provided. DHS will have legislation regarding this as well as having this for the 2017 legislative session. Behavioral health homes were established in Minnesota but as of now there is not one single BHH in the state. Utilization review includes medical necessity. Opiate use disorder and prescription drug abuse. In MN there are 17 OPT facilities. In California, the average amounts of days stayed is 30 days, that is it. CMS also requires 1115 waivers would have to go through public output. The waiver process would have to take roughly 4 years.
10:53MARRCH Legislative Update by Mark: Mark let the MARRCH constituency know that we are being proactive in the IMD process that might not fall in line with what DHS wants or is looking to do. MARRCH is developing a strategy that Brian and DHS will have to be coordinated. Chuck Johnson, the deputy commissioner and MARRCH will have meetings in the near future. The need to protect our clients from counties that when they run out of dollars, they stop caring for patients. MARRCH is working with DHS as well as legislators on trying to resolve this issue.
11:05 Meeting is adjourned