ST. PAUL, Minn. — On Monday, Senator Heather Gustafson’s (DFL-Vadnais Heights) bill to modify eligibility and rate requirements for mental health services received its first Senate hearing in the Human Services Committee. In response, Senator Gustafson released the following statement:
“Across the state, the need for mental health services has only increased in the last few years. Currently, mental health service providers are under-resourced and beyond capacity in terms of providing adequate intensive mental health services to children and adults. As a result, patients seeking care have had to turn to hospital-level services as the only viable option for care. This, in turn, is overwhelming our hospitals, causing significant financial strain, and is ultimately not the appropriate treatment model for those seeking these mental health services.
My bill focuses on concrete steps the legislature can take to respond to these challenges and increase provider capacity so that Minnesotans can receive the mental health care they need.”
Senate File 1615 was recommended to pass as amended and re-referred to the Health and Human Services Committee.
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Learn more about Sen. Gustafson.
