October 16 , 2020

MN Board of MFT currently open

The MN Board of MFT remains operational but Customers cannot be serviced in person due to the current COVID-19 health emergency.  Given the COVID-19 pandemic and our commitment to serving you as safely as possible, we ask that you conduct all business using email, telephone or our online services. 

National Exam & MN LMFT State Exam

At this time, MFT National Exam testing has resumed at most testing sites.  Approved exam candidates may again schedule their exams.  For more information, please log into your candidate account on the Professional Testing Center (PTC) website www.ptcny.com.  If an applicant requires assistance, they should contact PTC at 212-356-0660.        

The Board has resumed the LMFT State Exam as a written examination, administered to candidates at the Board office in Minneapolis, in a manner which maintains exam integrity and confidentiality, while insuring the health and safety of applicants.

Federal Notices Impacting HIPPA & Telehealth

The Board’s ethical practice regulations related to client privacy obligate licensees to safeguard client data and client privacy. On March 17, 2020, the Office for Civil Rights at the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a Notification of Enforcement Discretion for Telehealth Remote Communications during the COVID-19 Nationwide Public Health Emergency. With respect to telehealth remote communications referenced in the notice, the Board will consider HHS guidance as the professional standard to which licensees will be held during this National Public Health Emergency. The notice can be found on the HHS website: https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/special-topics/emergency-preparedness/notification-enforcement-discretion-telehealth/index.html.

On March 15, 2020, the US Department of HHS finalized licensure waivers that would permit certain health care providers participating in Federal health care programs to receive payment for telemedicine services in states where they do not hold a license during the coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency. The notice can be found on HHS's Public Health Emergency website: https://www.phe.gov/emergency/news/healthactions/section1135/Pages/covid19-13March20.aspx. 

Note: These waivers are limited in scope and State law continues to govern whether a provider can practice in a state without holding an active license. Several states have enacted emergency orders authorizing practice by health professionals licensed in another jurisdiction, subject to varying requirements. Minnesota has not issued such an Order at this time. A list of some states having issued COVID-19-related orders regarding practice by out-of-state licensed professionals can be found here: https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/hhs-and-states-relax-telehealth-83893/. 

MN Executive Orders to Suspend Evictions, Support Small Business Owners & Address Hospital Equipment Shortages

At the request of the Office of Governor Walz, the MN Board of MFT is advising all licensees of three Executive Orders issued March 23, 2020.

EO 20-14 suspends eviction proceedings during the COVID-19 peacetime emergency declaration. Tenants who can must continue to pay rent, but landlords cannot begin or must suspend eviction proceedings.

EO 20-15 creates an emergency small business loan program to help small businesses impacted by COVID-19. The program will be administered by the MN Department of Employment & Economic Development (DEED). More information is available on the DEED website:  https://mn.gov/deed/business/financing-business/deed-programs/peacetime/

EO 20-16 directs all non-hospital entities to conduct an inventory of their personal protective equipment, ventilators, respirators, and anesthesia machines, report the result to the state, and either donate such equipment to a local coordinating entity or preserve it.

All these Orders address topics relevant to our licensees and/or address topic which may be useful when providing care to clients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The full text of the Governor's announcement can be found here: https://mn.gov/governor/news/?id=1055-424399.