This section establishes the standards the Minnesota commissioner must use when evaluating proposed additional screening tools for potential approval on a semiannual basis. Required characteristics include appropriate reading level, ease of administration by nonclinicians, demonstrated reliability and validity, and minimum sensitivity/specificity thresholds of 0.70. Preferred characteristics include brevity, validation across cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and recognition by SAMHSA. Facility operators must use only commissioner-approved screening tools that meet these criteria.
View official source9533.0180 STANDARDS FOR PROPOSED ADDITIONAL SCREENING TOOLS. § Subpart 1. Consideration by commissioner. On a semiannual basis, the commissioner must consider for potential approval any additional screening tools proposed. The commissioner shall consider screening tools for approval based on the criteria in subparts 2 and 3. § Subp. 2. Required characteristics. The screening tool must: § A. have a reading level compatible with the population being screened; § B. be easily administered and scored by a nonclinician; § C. be tested in the general population and at the national level; § D. have demonstrated adequate reliability and validity; § E. have a minimum documented statistical sensitivity of .70 and overall specificity of .70; and § F. predict a range of diagnosable mental health conditions, or the likelihood of substance use disorders. § Subp. 3. Preferred characteristics. The commissioner must also evaluate the proposed tool according to whether it meets preferred characteristics. A tool receives a more favorable evaluation when it: § A. is concise, typically taking roughly ten minutes to complete or, for each rating scale, contains ten or fewer items; § B. has been widely used for adults and adolescents; § C. is available for use in a format that can be used either as part of an interview or through self-report; § D. is validated for more than one cultural background; § E. is validated for linguistic strength; or § F. is recognized by the federal Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.