All information on ARMHSNetwork.com is provided for supplemental information purposes only, and does not constitute legal advice and should not be construed as legal authority. For legal information please refer only to MN statute, MHCP Manual, and other official MN DHS sources of information.

*** THIS SITE IS STILL BEING DEVELOPED, AND SECTIONS MAY BE INCOMPLETE ***

Step 1 - Starting Your Company

The first step to getting Certified to provide ARMHS is to start your business. At a minimum, this requires you to:
1. Register your business with the MN Secretary of State
2. Set up your Federal Tax Identification Number (FEIN)
3. Set up your MN State Tax ID

Step 2 - Getting Certified with DHS

The second step is to apply directly to DHS for certification to provide ARMHS

  1. Obtain a business NPI for your organization
  2. At least 1 staff has attended MN Trainlink class: ARMHS – ADMINISTRATIVE MH131A
  3. Hire a Treatment Supervisor who has completed all MN Trainlink Pre-Requisites and attended ARMHS – CLINICAL MH131C
  4. Enroll to submit your ARMHS application
  5. Submit your ARMHS Application
    1. Section A – Implementation of ARMHS
    2. Section B – Collaboration with  Mental Health System
    3. Section C – ARMHS Supervision and Training
    4. Section D – Mock File
      1. Diagnostic Assessment (DA)
      2. Functional Assessment (FA)
      3. Individual Treatment Plan (ITP)
      4. Progress Note (PN) – addressing all objectives in ITP
      5. Updated ITP

Step 3 - Enrolling with Insurance

The third step is to enroll with the various insurance agencies to be paid to provide ARMHS.  PLEASE NOTE – You must be enrolled with insurance to be PAID for your work.  Being certified with DHS alone is not enough.

  1. Obtain General Liability Insurance in the amount of “1 million per incident / 3 million per year”
  2. State Medical Assistance – Estimated 2-3 Months
    1. Register for the MPSE portal – (Can only be completed after receiving the ARMHS final approval letter) 
    2. Submit both company and clinician applications
    3. Pay the MHCP Application Fee
    4. Pass the OIG Site visit
  3. Contracted and Credentialed Insurance Companies – Estimated 6-12 Months
    1. Blue Cross Blue Shield
    2. Health Partners
    3. Ucare
  4. Credentialed Insurance Companies – Estimated 2-3 Months
    1. Hennepin Health – (Metro only) 
    2. Medica – (Managed by Optum)
    3. United Health Care – (Managed by Optum)
  5. Insurance Companies in Greater Minnesota
    1. Itasca Medical Care – (Itasca County only)
    2. Prime West Health Services – (South East MN only)
    3. South County Health Alliance – (Greater MN only)

Other Issues

There are several other issues you will need to consider when starting your ARMHS organization:

  1. Deciding to use 1099 Contractors vs W2 Employees
  2. A system to manage all Human Resources (HR) documentation
    1. Contract
    2. Required Tax Documents
    3. Business Associates Agreement (1099 only)
    4. Background Check and work experience authorization
    5. Documentation of all qualifications to work in the USA
    6. Documentation of all qualifications for the position
    7. Treatment Consultation
    8. Annual Review
    9. Documentation of all required initial training
    10. Documentation of all required annual training
  3. An Electronic Health Record (EHR) system
  4. Deciding on Internal staff or an external company for billing
  5. Deciding run your business from your home or renting a business space
  6. Legal Representation

Recertification (DHS Audit)

After your initial certification, you will be audited by DHS (usually after 2 years).  This audit is looking at 2 things mainly.

  1. Staff Documentation
  2. Client Documentation

Staff Documentation:

You will be required to produce documentation for all staff that worked for you since your last certification.  For these staff you will need:

  1. Documentation showing that staff meet qualifications for their position
  2. Documentation that all initial training and continuing education was completed
  3. Documentation of Annual Reviews.
  4. Documentation of Treatment Supervision Plan
  5. Documentation of Background check

Client Documentation:

You will be asked to produce documentation for at least 3 clients.  1 of those clients must have had services for at least 13 months, while the others must have had services for at least 7 months.  For each client you will need:

  1. Client’s Start Date
  2. Assigned Staff
  3. Dates and documentation of all DA’s
  4. Dates and documentation of past 4 FA’s
  5. Dates and documentation of past 4 ITP’s
  6. Dates and documentation of past 10 PN’s
  7. Dates and documentation of at least 2 instances of Community Interventions, or an example of what they would look like if none are available.
  8. Dates and documentation of the most recent Relapse Prevention Plan, or an example of what one would look like if none are available.