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SF4809

Mental health care services establishment for students through telehealth
Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026)

Related bill: HF4020

AI Generated Summary

Purpose

Establish mental health care services for students through telehealth and provide general fund funding to support this program. The goal is to give students statewide access to licensed mental health clinicians via telehealth, with oversight and reporting to track usage, outcomes, and cost effectiveness.

Key Provisions

  • The Commissioner of Education must select a mental health care provider to deliver telehealth mental health services to students across Minnesota.
  • Parental consent is required where the law requires it.
  • The selected provider must use clinicians licensed in Minnesota and deliver all services via telehealth.
  • Services must be available within one week from referral to the first session.
  • The provider must have a proven ability to bill insurance (private insurance and MinnesotaCare/Medicaid) and must be capable of serving students statewide, including rural, suburban, and urban areas.
  • Telehealth services are defined according to existing Minnesota law (as referenced in 62A.673).

Provider Requirements

  • By January 1, 2027, the commissioner must select the mental health care provider.
  • The provider must maintain statewide capacity and ensure timely access, with appointment availability within one week of referral.
  • The provider must report annually on key metrics.

Reporting and Accountability

  • The provider must submit annual progress reports to the commissioner by July 1 each year.
  • Required metrics include:
    • Number of students with access to mental health care
    • Rates of engagement with students
    • Clinical outcomes
    • Overall cost effectiveness
  • Data must be disaggregated by school district.

Funding and Implementation Timeline

  • An appropriation from the general fund is made to the Department of Education to fund mental health services delivered via telehealth.
  • The funding will be provided as grants to the mental health care provider(s) under Minnesota statutes (specifically referencing 121A.217).

Parental Consent and Privacy

  • Services must be delivered with parental consent where required by applicable law, ensuring family involvement where legally mandated.

Definitions and Related References

  • Telehealth is defined as it appears in Minnesota law (section 62A.673).
  • The new framework is codified under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 121A (section 121A.217).

What This Changes

  • Creates a statewide, centralized framework to provide telehealth-based mental health services to students.
  • Establishes specific access, timeliness, licensing, and reporting requirements for the chosen provider.
  • Introduces a dedicated funding stream to support these telehealth services through the Department of Education.

Relevant Terms - telehealth - mental health care provider - licensed in Minnesota - students - parental consent - statewide access - rural, suburban, urban - data disaggregation by district - engagement rates - clinical outcomes - cost effectiveness - general fund - Department of Education - MinnesotaCare / Medicaid - private insurance - Minnesota Statutes 121A.217 - telehealth definition (62A.673)

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 25, 2026SenateActionIntroduction and first reading
March 25, 2026SenateActionReferred toEducation Policy
April 13, 2026SenateActionAuthor added

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Establishes telehealth-based mental health services for students; requires the commissioner of education to select a mental health care provider to deliver services statewide, working with schools and obtaining parental consent where required by applicable law.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "121A.217",
    "subdivision": "subd.1"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Outlines provider requirements: by January 1, 2027 the commissioner must select a Minnesota-licensed mental health care provider; provider must deliver all telehealth services using Minnesota-licensed clinicians; ensure appointment availability within one week of referral; demonstrate capacity to bill private insurance and Minnesota Medical Assistance; demonstrate statewide capacity across rural, suburban, and urban areas.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "121A.217",
    "subdivision": "subd.2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Requires annual reporting by the mental health care provider on metrics including access, engagement, clinical outcomes, and cost effectiveness; data must be disaggregated and reported by district.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "121A.217",
    "subdivision": "subd.3"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Cross-reference indicating telehealth has the meaning given in section 62A.673.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "62A.673",
    "subdivision": ""
  }
]

Progress through the legislative process

17%
In Committee

Sponsors

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