[MMA News Now, June 7, 2012] Minnesota’s Department of Human Services (DHS) has entered into a two-year contract with Mayo Clinic to develop and provide a statewide, collaborative psychiatric consultation service for primary care physicians who prescribe psychotropic medications for children.

As part of this effort, DHS Commissioner Lucinda Jesson has asked for MMA’s assistance in promoting the service and further improving care to children in need. “We look forward to partnering with the Minnesota Medical Association in developing the best mental health treatment for all of the children we serve, and especially for children in foster care who have often endured multiple forms of trauma,” she wrote in a letter to MMA President Lyle Swenson, M.D.

A two-year state and federal investment of $1.7 million in the program is expected to be fully offset by reduced costs for inpatient hospitalizations and medications in the state’s Medical Assistance program. Although all Minnesota physicians will be encouraged to use the service on a voluntary basis, its use will be required for Medical Assistance fee-for-service payment for certain psychotropic medications.

“We are pleased to join with the Mayo Clinic to provide better mental health care to all Minnesota children, especially children served by the Medical Assistance program,” Jesson said. “This new psychiatric consultation service holds the promise of improved access and quality of care as well as greater efficiency so resources can be focused on appropriate treatment.”

When the service is fully implemented it will include outreach, support and education for local collaborative partnerships including mental health, primary care physicians and other health care providers.

For more information on this service visit the DHS website.