1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to health; establishing a colorectal cancer screening demonstration 
1.3 	project for the uninsured; establishing medical assistance coverage for 
1.4 	individuals diagnosed with colorectal cancer through the demonstration project;
1.5 	amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.057, by adding a subdivision.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.057, is amended by adding a 
1.8 	subdivision to read:
1.9 		Subd. 11.Treatment for colorectal cancer. (a) Medical assistance may be paid for 
1.10 	an individual who:
1.11 	(1) has been screened for colorectal cancer by the colorectal cancer prevention 
1.12 	demonstration project;
1.13 	(2) according to the individual's treating health professional, needs treatment for 
1.14 	colorectal cancer;
1.15 	(3) meets income eligibility guidelines for the colorectal cancer prevention 
1.16 	demonstration project;
1.17 	(4) is under the age of 65; and
1.18 	(5) is not otherwise eligible for medical assistance or other creditable coverage as 
1.19 	defined under United States Code, title 42, section 1396a(aa).
1.20 	(b) Medical assistance provided under this subdivision shall be limited to services 
1.21 	provided during the period that the individual receives treatment for colorectal cancer.
1.22 	(c) An individual meeting the criteria in paragraph (a) is eligible for medical 
1.23 	assistance without meeting the eligibility criteria relating to income and assets in section 
1.24 	256B.056, subdivisions 1a to 5b.

2.1 	Sec. 2. MINNESOTA COLORECTAL CANCER PREVENTION ACT.
 2.2 		Subdivision 1.Establishment. The commissioner of health shall award grants 
2.3 	to Hennepin County Medical Center and MeritCare Bemidji for a colorectal screening 
2.4 	demonstration project to provide screening to uninsured and underinsured women and 
2.5 	men.
2.6 		Subd. 2.Eligibility. To be eligible for colorectal screening under this demonstration 
2.7 	project, an applicant must:
2.8 	(1) be at least 50 years of age, or under the age of 50 and at high risk for colon cancer;
2.9 	(2) be uninsured, or if insured, have coverage that does not cover the full cost of 
2.10 	colorectal cancer screenings;
2.11 	(3) not be eligible for medical assistance, general assistance medical care, or 
2.12 	MinnesotaCare programs; and
2.13 	(4) have a gross family income at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level.
2.14 		Subd. 3.Services. Services provided under this project shall include:
2.15 	(1) colorectal cancer screening, according to standard practices of medicine, or 
2.16 	guidelines provided by the Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement or the American 
2.17 	Cancer Society;
2.18 	(2) follow-up services for abnormal tests; and
2.19 	(3) diagnostic services to determine the extent and proper course of treatment.
2.20 		Subd. 4.Project evaluation. The commissioner of health, in consultation with the 
2.21 	University of Minnesota School of Public Health, shall evaluate the demonstration project 
2.22 	and make recommendations for increasing the number of persons in Minnesota who 
2.23 	receive recommended colon cancer screening. The commissioner of health shall submit 
2.24 	the evaluation and recommendations to the legislature by January 1, 2011.