An investigation by FOX 9 reporter Nathan O’Neal has revealed that Ramsey County has been billing individuals for its mobile mental health crisis response services. The investigation uncovered that when the county’s mobile response team is dispatched following calls to Ramsey County’s crisis line, individuals are charged directly for the service.
It is important to note that this crisis line is specific to Ramsey County and is not affiliated with the national 988 crisis hotline.
O’Neal’s findings show that individuals who utilized these services were billed hundreds of dollars, with the fees not being disclosed to callers. Additionally, information about these charges was not readily available online.
In contrast, neighboring Hennepin County provides crisis response services free of charge.
In response to O’Neal’s investigation, Ramsey County has issued a statement apologizing for the oversight and outlining corrective measures. The county plans to address the issue by clearly displaying information about fees and payment options for crisis services on its website. It will also update the script used by crisis staff answering calls and include details about sliding scale fees and payment plans on invoices.
Related topics:
