Be a Productive Disruptor: Why Behavioral Health Needs Brave Voices With a Plan

I’m often told that I “say the quiet things out loud.” Sometimes, it’s framed as a compliment. Other times... not so much. When people like what I say, I’m praised for being “honest” or “refreshing.” When they don’t, well—let’s just say the labels get less flattering.

But here’s what I call myself: a productive disruptor.

That’s my internal compass. Every day, I ask myself two things:

1. Is this productive?

2. Is this disruptive?

If the answer isn’t “yes” to both, I stay quiet. And believe me—as an introvert—I don’t speak just to hear the sound of my own voice. The less voices I hear (including mine), the better.

But when I do speak up, it’s because the field needs movement—not just noise. Disruption, after all, isn’t a halt. It’s a redirection. You disrupt a stream, and the water flows elsewhere. That’s the goal: to change direction, not just cause chaos.

In behavioral health, we are astonishingly good at doing the same thing over and over, hoping for better outcomes. But hope is not a strategy. If we want better results, we need to change. That requires a willingness to challenge what’s broken—without carelessly discarding what’s working.

So how do we know what to keep and what to toss?

We collect data. We ask hard questions. We evaluate outcomes.
Not everything old is bad. Not everything new is good. But if it’s not serving our clients, our staff, or our mission—why are we still clinging to it?

People who regularly read what I write know I’m not here just to critique. I believe in action. I offer ideas you can implement—whether it’s writing your legislator, mentoring a new clinician, or sitting with your team to review outcome data. We all have a role to play in building a better system.

What doesn’t help?
Shouting into the void without offering solutions.
Recycling complaints without lifting a finger to change them.

It’s okay to try and fail. It’s okay to get it wrong the first time. That’s what we tell our clients every day—why wouldn’t we model it ourselves?

Recently, the State of Minnesota has experienced several high-profile fraud cases in the human services field—including within my own, substance use disorder treatment. These cases sparked a wave of public criticism and mounting pressure on the state to do something. In response, new legislation was passed. Specifically:

Section 32. [609.542] ILLEGAL REMUNERATIONS
It is now a criminal offense for any person to intentionally offer, solicit, or receive money or anything of value in exchange for referring individuals or receiving services funded in whole or in part by federal healthcare programs or Minnesota's behavioral health programs under Chapters 254B and 142E.
This includes referrals, ordering goods or services, or even receiving services, if there’s any exchange of value involved that can be linked back to public funding sources.

The statute’s language is broad, and the implications are significant. One of the most immediate effects? It will effectively eliminate SUD treatment programs providing stipends for rent or sober living—a practice that, while well-intentioned in some cases, was increasingly used in ways that blurred ethical and legal lines.

Applying the new law on Illegal Renumerations to SUD Housing Stipends:

If a treatment center pays a sober house stipend on behalf of a client, and:

• That stipend is contingent on the client attending or staying enrolled in that specific treatment program

• The payment functions as a way to retain the client (i.e., as an inducement to stay)

• Or the sober home refers the client to the program in exchange for ongoing payment

Then the law sees that as an exchange of value tied to the furnishing or receipt of reimbursed services—which is the core behavior the statute criminalizes.

It’s a significant shift, and programs must adapt immediately to avoid criminal liability. Now is the time to explore compliant alternatives, like independent housing support, third-party managed funds, or system-level policy advocacy to support clients without tying services to incentives.

And now? The field is in panic. There's noise, frustration, confusion, and fear. People are asking: How are we supposed to keep clients housed? How do we adjust without compromising access or continuity of care?

Here’s the challenge I want to offer:
Can we redirect that panic into something productive?

Because here’s the truth—the disruption was coming. We’ve known for years that our systems were being exploited. We just didn’t want to be the ones to rock the boat. Now that the boat is sinking in certain places, we have a decision: Do we patch it creatively, or do we go down with it while shouting about how unfair it all is?

This is exactly where productive disruption matters most.
We needed reform.
We knew there was fraud.
And we know there will be fallout—because our continuum of care has leaned heavily on financial mechanisms that may have been helping clients on the surface, but were also opening the door to abuse and profiteering.

So now what?

Now is the time to innovate, document outcomes, and fight for sustainable, legal, and ethical ways to support clients in housing, engagement, and long-term recovery. We can still be disruptors—but the kind who show up at legislative hearings with solutions, not just grievances. The kind who help redesign systems, not just mourn what’s being dismantled.

So here’s my invitation:
Be a disruptor. But be a productive one.
Let your voice be a catalyst for something better.

So, what are some actionable items people can implement to be a productive disruptor today?

Audit Your Own Practices for Compliance

Review your program's use of housing stipends, referral relationships, or incentive structures. Consult legal counsel to ensure you are aligned with Minnesota Statute 609.542 and federal regulations.
✅ Ask: Are we offering anything of value that could be interpreted as inducement?

Start Tracking Meaningful Outcomes

If you're not already collecting and reviewing data on client outcomes, start now. Build dashboards or reports on AMA/ASA rates, length of stay, housing stability, or post-discharge engagement.
✅ Data is your shield and your sword.

Advocate Upstream

Call your legislators. Share how the loss of housing stipends affects your clients and request funding for legal, neutral housing support systems that don’t compromise ethical care.
✅ Disruption is louder when it’s organized.

Share Your Solutions

Write your own blog, present at a conference, or speak up in meetings. Being a productive disruptor means not just naming problems, but being part of the solution pipeline.
✅ Visibility matters. Especially when others are quietly complicit.

Carmichael is not a lawyer, and nothing in this article should be construed as legal advice. Always consult with qualified legal counsel when interpreting or applying new statutes.

About the Author
Carmichael Finn is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC), and Executive Director of a women and family-centered treatment program in Minnesota. Known for saying the quiet things out loud, Michael is a self-described productive disruptor—challenging systems that no longer serve the people they claim to help. With over two decades in behavioral health, he blends clinical insight, policy advocacy, and unapologetic truth-telling to push the field toward ethical, evidence-informed, and equitable care. He also provides consulting and training through www.carmichaelfinn.com, where professionals can find practical tools for change, not just conversation.

When he’s not leading systems reform or calling out ethical nonsense, Michael can be found hiding from small talk, nerding out over obscure policy language, or spending time with his neurodiverse family—who keep him humble, grounded, and regularly roasted at the dinner table.