Summer 1997

Effective October 1, 1997, one third of the state funds used to pay for treatment services for compulsive gambling must be dispersed on an individual client, fee-for-service basis. Two-thirds must be available on a fee-for-service basis by July 1, 1998 and as of July 1, 1999, all funds must be converted from the existing treatment program grant mechanism to a fee-for-service reimbursement system. The intent is also to increase geographic accessibility so that eventually treatment services will be available statewide through a much larger pool of qualified providers.

The state currently has a pilot fee-for-service project in a 12 county portion of Southeast Minnesota that will serve as the framework for this conversion and expansion. Subject to some interim modification pending development and formal adoption of practice standards, the basic criteria now used to establish a provider as an "eligible vendor" - qualified to receive reimbursement from state funds for providing gambling treatment servicesare the following:

A. Independent status:
(A and B are new terms, not currently used re: SE criteria) 1. Are certified as a gambling treatment counselor and/or 2. Qualify as a mental health professional under M.S.245.462, subd.18 or higher and have received as least sixty hours of accredited gambling specific training.

B. Resource supported status:
1. Qualify as a mental health practitioner under subd.17 or as a certified chemical dependency counselor under Minnesota Rules part 9530.4270, subpart 5 and have received at least sixty hours of accredited gambling specific training and make arrangements for clinical consultation and supervision from someone who qualifies for the independent status or higher, e.g., certified or accredited as a gambling specific or addictive disorder supervisor/consultant.

Anyone interested in learning more about this conversion to a fee-for-service system, wants to be on the mailing list and/or is willing to help review and possibly modify the interim criteria and establish a fee schedule, please contact Patti Luther, DHS Gambling Program, 444 Lafayette Rd., St. Paul, Minnesota 55155-3828. Please include name, full address, phone and fax numbers, an indication of your interest, current practice/job setting and educational background including any gambling specific or other addictive disorders training, certification or accreditation.