HF 1296

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 02/08/2023 12:19pm

A bill for an act
relating to health; establishing a critical access dental infrastructure program;
appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin CRITICAL ACCESS DENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
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new text begin (b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of health.
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new text begin (c) "Critical access dental provider" means a critical access dental provider as defined
in Minnesota Statutes, section 256B.76, subdivision 4.
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new text begin (d) "Dental infrastructure" means:
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new text begin (1) physical infrastructure of a dental clinic, including but not limited to the operations
and clinical spaces in a dental clinic; associated heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
infrastructure and other mechanical infrastructure; and dental equipment needed to operate
a dental clinic; or
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new text begin (2) mobile dental equipment or other equipment needed to provide dental services via
a hub-and-spoke service delivery model.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Grant and loan program established. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall make grants
and forgivable loans to critical access dental providers for eligible dental infrastructure
projects.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Eligible projects. new text end

new text begin In order to be eligible for a grant or forgivable loan under
this section, a dental infrastructure project must be proposed by a critical access dental
provider and must allow the provider to maintain or expand the provider's capacity to serve
Minnesota health care program enrollees.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Application. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner must develop forms and procedures for
soliciting and reviewing applications for grants and forgivable loans under this section and
for awarding grants and forgivable loans. Critical access dental providers seeking a grant
or forgivable loan under this section must apply to the commissioner in a time and manner
specified by the commissioner. In evaluating applications for grants or forgivable loans for
eligible projects, the commissioner must review applications for completeness and must
determine the extent to which:
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new text begin (1) the project would ensure that the critical access dental provider is able to continue
to serve Minnesota health care program enrollees in a manner that would not be possible
but for the project; or
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new text begin (2) the project would increase the number of Minnesota health care program enrollees
served by the provider or the clinical complexity of the Minnesota health care program
enrollees served by the provider.
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new text begin (b) The commissioner must award grants and forgivable loans based on the information
provided in the grant application.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Program oversight. new text end

new text begin The commissioner may require and collect from grant and
loan recipients any information needed to evaluate the program.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; CRITICAL ACCESS DENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE
PROGRAM.
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new text begin $20,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of health for a critical access dental infrastructure program. This is a onetime appropriation
and is available until June 30, 2026.
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