Minnesota Capitol. Photo by Minnesota House Public Information Services.
Mental health providers and patient advocates told lawmakers Wednesday that a growing number of Minnesota children and families are struggling to access mental health services and asked the Legislature for help.
Children’s Minnesota said kids are waiting months to access mental health care, and as a result an increasing number are visiting the hospital’s emergency departments for mental health issues. In 2018, Children’s saw about 1,700 emergency mental health visits. Last year, that number skyrocketed to over 3,300 visits.
“My colleagues and I are working tirelessly to support patients and families, and we need the Legislature to support us,” Jessica Brisbois, acute mental health manager with Children’s Minnesota, told legislators during the hearing. Lawmakers met to discuss reimbursement rates paid out by Medical Assistance, which is Minnesota’s version of Medicaid, the federal-state health program for people with low income or disabilities.