Subdivision 1. Authorization for navigator pilot projects. The commissioner may approve and implement navigator pilot projects developed under the planning process required under Laws 2009, chapter 79, article 7, section 26, to provide alternatives to and enhance coordination of the delivery of chemical health services required under section 254B.03.

Subd. 2. Program design and implementation. (a) The commissioner and counties participating in the navigator pilot projects shall continue to work in partnership to refine and implement the navigator pilot projects initiated under Laws 2009, chapter 79, article 7, section 26.

(b) The commissioner and counties participating in the navigator pilot projects shall complete the planning phase and, if approved by the commissioner for implementation, enter into agreements governing the operation of the navigator pilot projects.

Subd. 2a. Eligibility for navigator pilot program. (a) To be considered for participation in a navigator pilot program, an individual must:

(1) be a resident of a county with an approved navigator program;

(2) be eligible for consolidated chemical dependency treatment fund services;

(3) be a voluntary participant in the navigator program;

(4) satisfy one of the following items:

(i) have at least one severity rating of three or above in dimension four, five, or six in a comprehensive assessment under section 245G.05, subdivision 2, paragraph (c), clauses (4) to (6); or

(ii) have at least one severity rating of two or above in dimension four, five, or six in a comprehensive assessment under section 245G.05, subdivision 2, paragraph (c), clauses (4) to (6), and be currently participating in a Rule 31 treatment program under chapter 245G or be within 60 days following discharge after participation in a Rule 31 treatment program; and

(5) have had at least two treatment episodes in the past two years, not limited to episodes reimbursed by the consolidated chemical dependency treatment funds. An admission to an emergency room, a detoxification program, or a hospital may be substituted for one treatment episode if it resulted from the individual's substance use disorder.

(b) New eligibility criteria may be added as mutually agreed upon by the commissioner and participating navigator programs.

Subd. 3. [Repealed, 2014 c 262 art 3 s 18]

Subd. 4. Notice of navigator pilot project discontinuation. Each county's participation in the navigator pilot project may be discontinued for any reason by the county or the commissioner of human services after 30 days' written notice to the other party.

Subd. 5. Duties of commissioner. (a) Notwithstanding any other provisions in this chapter, the commissioner may authorize navigator pilot projects to use chemical dependency treatment funds to pay for nontreatment navigator pilot services:

(1) in addition to those authorized under section 254B.03, subdivision 2, paragraph (a); and

(2) by vendors in addition to those authorized under section 254B.05 when not providing chemical dependency treatment services.

(b) For purposes of this section, "nontreatment navigator pilot services" include navigator services, peer support, family engagement and support, housing support, rent subsidies, supported employment, and independent living skills.

(c) State expenditures for chemical dependency services and nontreatment navigator pilot services provided by or through the navigator pilot projects must not be greater than the chemical dependency treatment fund expected share of forecasted expenditures in the absence of the navigator pilot projects. The commissioner may restructure the schedule of payments between the state and participating counties under the local agency share and division of cost provisions under section 254B.03, subdivisions 3 and 4, as necessary to facilitate the operation of the navigator pilot projects.

(d) The commissioner may waive administrative rule requirements that are incompatible with the implementation of the navigator pilot project, except that any chemical dependency treatment funded under this section must continue to be provided by a licensed treatment provider.

(e) The commissioner shall not approve or enter into any agreement related to navigator pilot projects authorized under this section that puts current or future federal funding at risk.

(f) The commissioner shall provide participating navigator pilot projects with transactional data, reports, provider data, and other data generated by county activity to assess and measure outcomes. This information must be transmitted or made available in an acceptable form to participating navigator pilot projects at least once every six months or within a reasonable time following the commissioner's receipt of information from the counties needed to comply with this paragraph.

Subd. 6. Duties of county board. The county board, or other county entity that is approved to administer a navigator pilot project, shall:

(1) administer the navigator pilot project in a manner consistent with the objectives described in subdivision 2 and the planning process in subdivision 5;

(2) ensure that no one is denied chemical dependency treatment services for which they would otherwise be eligible under section 254A.03, subdivision 3; and

(3) provide the commissioner with timely and pertinent information as negotiated in agreements governing operation of the navigator pilot projects.

Subd. 7. Managed care. An individual who is eligible for the navigator pilot program under subdivision 2a is excluded from mandatory enrollment in managed care until these services are included in the health plan's benefit set.

Subd. 8. Authorization for continuation of navigator pilots. The navigator pilot projects implemented pursuant to subdivision 1 are authorized to continue operation after July 1, 2013, under existing agreements governing operation of the pilot projects.

History: 2010 c 376 s 1; 1Sp2010 c 1 art 19 s 16; 2011 c 86 s 10; 2013 c 108 art 4 s 12; 1Sp2017 c 6 art 8 s 67; 2019 c 50 art 1 s 71