Substance Use Disorder Treatment Legislation Receives First Public Hearing

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Representative Hunter Cantrell (DFL – Savage) today presented a bill in the Health and Human Services Finance Committee to provide sustainable funding for substance use disorder treatment and lower costs for both patients and providers. The bill puts into action recommendations of a substance use disorder study recently completed by the Department of Human Services regarding residential treatment and payment rate reform.

“We need to take a comprehensive look at how we address the opioid epidemic and the needs of those experiencing chemical dependency in our state,” said Rep. Cantrell. “That means culturally-competent, individualized care that Minnesotans can actually afford. Not having access to treatment can be devastating.“

The bill provides a much-needed rate increase to substance use disorder providers, and requires DHS to develop a long-term comprehensive rate methodology that reimburses substance use disorder treatment providers for the full continuum of care.

Only ten percent of people seeking mental health and substance use treatment are able to get it, due to cost and lack of access. According to a 2016 federal government study, for each dollar put into treatment, $12 are saved in future health care and public safety costs. Minnesota spends $7 billion on addiction each year.