Minnesota Statutes
Chapter 245I — Mental Health Uniform Service Standards Act
Section 245I.11 — Health Services And Medications.

Subdivision 1. Generally. If a license holder is licensed as a residential program, stores or administers client medications, or observes clients self-administer medications, the license holder must ensure that a staff person who is a registered nurse or licensed prescriber is responsible for overseeing storage and administration of client medications and observing as a client self-administers medications, including training according to section 245I.05, subdivision 6, and documenting the occurrence according to section 245I.08, subdivision 5.
Subd. 2. Health services. If a license holder is licensed as a residential program, the license holder must:
(1) ensure that a client is screened for health issues within 72 hours of the client's admission;
(2) monitor the physical health needs of each client on an ongoing basis;
(3) offer referrals to clients and coordinate each client's care with psychiatric and medical services;
(4) identify circumstances in which a staff person must notify a registered nurse or licensed prescriber of any of a client's health concerns and the process for providing notification of client health concerns; and
(5) identify the circumstances in which the license holder must obtain medical care for a client and the process for obtaining medical care for a client.
Subd. 3. Storing and accounting for medications. (a) If a license holder stores client medications, the license holder must:
(1) store client medications in original containers in a locked location;
(2) store refrigerated client medications in special trays or containers that are separate from food;
(3) store client medications marked "for external use only" in a compartment that is separate from other client medications;
(4) store Schedule II to IV drugs listed in section 152.02, subdivisions 3 to 5, in a compartment that is locked separately from other medications;
(5) ensure that only authorized staff persons have access to stored client medications;
(6) follow a documentation procedure on each shift to account for all scheduled drugs; and
(7) record each incident when a staff person accepts a supply of client medications and destroy discontinued, outdated, or deteriorated client medications.
(b) If a license holder is licensed as a residential program, the license holder must allow clients who self-administer medications to keep a private medication supply. The license holder must ensure that the client stores all private medication in a locked container in the client's private living area, unless the private medication supply poses a health and safety risk to any clients. A client must not maintain a private medication supply of a prescription medication without a written medication order from a licensed prescriber and a prescription label that includes the client's name.
Subd. 4. Medication orders. (a) If a license holder stores, prescribes, or administers medications or observes a client self-administer medications, the license holder must:
(1) ensure that a licensed prescriber writes all orders to accept, administer, or discontinue client medications;
(2) accept nonwritten orders to administer client medications in emergency circumstances only;
(3) establish a timeline and process for obtaining a written order with the licensed prescriber's signature when the license holder accepts a nonwritten order to administer client medications;
(4) obtain prescription medication renewals from a licensed prescriber for each client every 90 days for psychotropic medications and annually for all other medications; and
(5) maintain the client's right to privacy and dignity.
(b) If a license holder employs a licensed prescriber, the license holder must inform the client about potential medication effects and side effects and obtain and document the client's informed consent before the licensed prescriber prescribes a medication.
Subd. 5. Medication administration. If a license holder is licensed as a residential program, the license holder must:
(1) assess and document each client's ability to self-administer medication. In the assessment, the license holder must evaluate the client's ability to: (i) comply with prescribed medication regimens; and (ii) store the client's medications safely and in a manner that protects other individuals in the facility. Through the assessment process, the license holder must assist the client in developing the skills necessary to safely self-administer medication;
(2) monitor the effectiveness of medications, side effects of medications, and adverse reactions to medications for each client. The license holder must address and document any concerns about a client's medications;
(3) ensure that no staff person or client gives a legend drug supply for one client to another client;
(4) have policies and procedures for: (i) keeping a record of each client's medication orders; (ii) keeping a record of any incident of deferring a client's medications; (iii) documenting any incident when a client's medication is omitted; and (iv) documenting when a client refuses to take medications as prescribed; and
(5) document and track medication errors, document whether the license holder notified anyone about the medication error, determine if the license holder must take any follow-up actions, and identify the staff persons who are responsible for taking follow-up actions.
2021 c 30 art 15 s 12