DHS authorizes telemedicine in health care, mental health and substance use disorder settings.

On Monday the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) secured the final federal approvals needed to expand telemedicine in health care, mental health and substance use disorder settings. The department can now temporarily expand the list of DHS-enrolled providers and their tribal equivalents who will be permitted to provide services through telephone and video visits to include:

• Providers who are considered “licensed health care providers” and providers supervised by licensed medical providers
• Mental health certified peer specialists and mental health certified family peer specialists
• Adult Rehabilitative Mental Health Services (ARMHS) providers
• Mental health behavioral aides in Children’s Therapeutic Support services (CTSS)
• Alcohol and drug counselors, alcohol and drug counselor-temps, recovery peers, and student interns in licensed SUD programs
• Providers of SUD Rule 25 assessments, comprehensive assessments and group therapy

DHS also received federal approval to conduct certain targeted case management services though phone or televideo visits. We are awaiting action on ACT teams.

These measures, effective retroactively to March 19, help enrollees and providers follow social distancing best practices.