1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to health; requiring a study on complementary 
  1.3             medicine. 
  1.4   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.5      Section 1.  [COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE STUDY.] 
  1.6      Subdivision 1.  [DEFINITION.] For purposes of this section, 
  1.7   the term "complementary medicine" includes, but is not limited 
  1.8   to, acupuncture, homeopathy, manual healing, macrobiotics, 
  1.9   naturopathy, biofeedback, mind/body control therapies, 
  1.10  traditional and ethnomedicine therapies, structural 
  1.11  manipulations and energetic therapies, bioelectromagnetic 
  1.12  therapies, and herbal medicine. 
  1.13     Subd. 2.  [STUDY.] The commissioner of health, in 
  1.14  consultation with the commissioner of commerce, shall conduct a 
  1.15  study based on existing literature, information, and data on the 
  1.16  scope of complementary medicine offered in this state.  The 
  1.17  commissioner shall: 
  1.18     (1) include the types of complementary medicine therapies 
  1.19  available in this state; 
  1.20     (2) contact national and state complementary medicine 
  1.21  associations for literature, information, and data; 
  1.22     (3) conduct a general literary review for information and 
  1.23  data on complementary medicine; 
  1.24     (4) contact departments of commerce, health, and human 
  2.1   services for information on existing registrations, licenses, 
  2.2   certificates, credentials, policies, and regulations; and 
  2.3      (5) determine by sample, if complementary medicine is 
  2.4   currently covered by health plan companies and the extent of the 
  2.5   coverage. 
  2.6      In conducting this review, the commissioner shall consult 
  2.7   with the office of alternative medicine through the National 
  2.8   Institute of Health. 
  2.9      Subd. 3.  [RECOMMENDATIONS; REPORT.] The commissioner 
  2.10  shall, in consultation with the advisory committee, report the 
  2.11  study findings to the legislature by January 15, 1998.  As part 
  2.12  of the report, the commissioner shall make recommendations on 
  2.13  whether the state should credential or regulate any of the 
  2.14  complementary medicine providers. 
  2.15     Subd. 4.  [ADVISORY COMMITTEE.] The commissioner shall 
  2.16  appoint an advisory committee to provide expertise and advice on 
  2.17  the study.  The committee must include representation from the 
  2.18  following groups:  health care providers, including providers of 
  2.19  complementary medicine; health plan companies; and consumers. 
  2.20     The advisory committee is governed by Minnesota Statutes, 
  2.21  section 15.059, for membership terms and removal of members.