Substance use disorder reform

Since 2012, the Minnesota Department of Human Services has been working with partners, providers, counties, and tribes to update our state’s substance use disorder (SUD) treatment system. SUD reform seeks to decrease barriers for people seeking SUD treatment services. We do this by granting individuals access to SUD treatment services the same way that they access other health care services: by choosing the provider directly. This is a person-centered approach that allows individuals to select the right level of service.

October 2019 update: substance use disorder reform (PDF)

Information for partners and providers

SUD reform includes implementing a streamlined way to access SUD services (Direct Access), adding eligible vendors to provide SUD services, and allowing for additional SUD services to be billable. Below are some resources that provide a brief overview of these efforts.

Direct Access
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 SUD assessments.
Overview of new services
1115 Substance Use Disorder System Reform Demonstration

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.

Substance use disorder reform

Information for partners and providers

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