Direct Access allows an individual to go directly to a provider they choose to receive a comprehensive assessment and access care immediately. Direct Access removes barriers of timing associated with going through a placing authority, allows for individual choice, and removes duplication of comprehensive assessments.
Beginning in late 1980s, the Rule 25 process has been the method for eligible people to access publicly paid substance use disorder (SUD) treatment services in Minnesota. In October of 2020 Minnesota began running a parallel process during which a person could either follow the traditional Rule 25 process or, via Direct Access, go directly to a provider for an assessment and treatment.
On July 1, 2022, this parallel process ends and Direct Access will become the only process by which publicly paid SUD treatment services can be accessed in Minnesota. Rule 25 will no longer be available after June 30, 2022.
Consult the Direct Access: Frequently Asked Questions page for information about issues such as (but not limited to) client choice, comprehensive assessments, counties and tribes, accessing treatment.
In November, 2017, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a letter to announce a new direction in how the federal government would like to work with states to improve access to high quality clinically appropriate treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) and other substance use disorders (SUDs) for Medicaid beneficiaries. Following this new direction, and under the authority of section 1115(a) of the Social Security Act, Minnesota has been approved to implement a 1115 Substance Use Disorder System Reform Demonstration.
