HF 5

as introduced - 86th Legislature, 2010 2nd Special Session (2010 - 2010) Posted on 10/18/2010 12:49pm

A bill for an act
relating to public health; requiring the commissioner of health to research and
report on autism; requiring the Department of Human Services to train autism
service providers; requiring notification of autism service options for medical
assistance and MinnesotaCare recipients.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin AUTISM RESEARCH AND REPORT.
new text end

new text begin The Department of Health shall study the prevalence and prevention of autism in
Somali communities in Minnesota. They shall review and analyze the magnitude and
incidence of autism-related health disparities according to age, location, potential or known
toxic environmental exposures, housing conditions, poverty, nutritional factors, health
care access including prescribed medical treatments, the occupational and residential
history of the children's parents, and the children's current residence. The Department of
Health shall report results of their analysis and recommendations to the Public Health and
Health and Human Services Committee chairs in the house of representatives and senate.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin AUTISM NOTIFICATION.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner of human services shall develop an informational notice for
parents of children with autism who are enrolled in medical assistance or MinnesotaCare
to inform them that their children may qualify to receive services on a fee-for-service basis
instead of through a managed care organization, explain the process of disenrolling from
managed care, and inform them that fee-for-service coverage may provide access to an
expanded set of providers. The commissioner shall make the informational notice available
on the department's public Web site and include a copy of the notice in the next scheduled
mailing to enrolled children. The commissioner shall make language translations of the
notice available on the Web site and in the mailing to the enrolled children.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin TRAINING OF AUTISM SERVICE PROVIDERS.
new text end

new text begin The Departments of Health and Human Services shall ensure that the departments'
autism-related service providers receive training in culturally appropriate approaches
to the Somali, Latino, Hmong, Indigenous American Indian, and other cultural groups
experiencing a disproportionate incidence of autism.
new text end