SF 1963

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 03/04/2025 09:14 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to state government; requiring coverage for self-measured blood pressure
monitoring devices; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.0625,
subdivision 31; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 62Q.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [62Q.671] COVERAGE FOR SELF-MEASURED BLOOD PRESSURE
MONITORING DEVICES.
new text end

new text begin A health plan must cover self-measured blood pressure monitoring devices and related
services for enrollees diagnosed with uncontrolled hypertension. Coverage required under
this section is limited to one blood pressure monitoring device every three years. Health
plan coverage must include reimbursement to providers for the provider costs associated
with training patients, transmitting blood pressure data, readings, and delivering
co-interventions.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective January 1, 2026.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.0625, subdivision 31, is amended to read:

Subd. 31.

Medical supplies and equipment.

(a) Medical assistance covers medical
supplies and equipment. Separate payment outside of the facility's payment rate shall be
made for wheelchairs and wheelchair accessories for recipients who are residents of
intermediate care facilities for the developmentally disabled. Reimbursement for wheelchairs
and wheelchair accessories for ICF/DD recipients shall be subject to the same conditions
and limitations as coverage for recipients who do not reside in institutions. A wheelchair
purchased outside of the facility's payment rate is the property of the recipient.

(b) Vendors of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, or medical supplies
must enroll as a Medicare provider.

(c) When necessary to ensure access to durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics,
or medical supplies, the commissioner may exempt a vendor from the Medicare enrollment
requirement if:

(1) the vendor supplies only one type of durable medical equipment, prosthetic, orthotic,
or medical supply;

(2) the vendor serves ten or fewer medical assistance recipients per year;

(3) the commissioner finds that other vendors are not available to provide same or similar
durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, or medical supplies; and

(4) the vendor complies with all screening requirements in this chapter and Code of
Federal Regulations, title 42, part 455. The commissioner may also exempt a vendor from
the Medicare enrollment requirement if the vendor is accredited by a Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services approved national accreditation organization as complying with the
Medicare program's supplier and quality standards and the vendor serves primarily pediatric
patients.

(d) Durable medical equipment means a device or equipment that:

(1) can withstand repeated use;

(2) is generally not useful in the absence of an illness, injury, or disability; and

(3) is provided to correct or accommodate a physiological disorder or physical condition
or is generally used primarily for a medical purpose.

(e) Electronic tablets may be considered durable medical equipment if the electronic
tablet will be used as an augmentative and alternative communication system as defined
under subdivision 31a, paragraph (a). To be covered by medical assistance, the device must
be locked in order to prevent use not related to communication.

(f) Notwithstanding the requirement in paragraph (e) that an electronic tablet must be
locked to prevent use not as an augmentative communication device, a recipient of waiver
services may use an electronic tablet for a use not related to communication when the
recipient has been authorized under the waiver to receive one or more additional applications
that can be loaded onto the electronic tablet, such that allowing the additional use prevents
the purchase of a separate electronic tablet with waiver funds.

(g) An order or prescription for medical supplies, equipment, or appliances must meet
the requirements in Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, part 440.70.

(h) Allergen-reducing products provided according to subdivision 67, paragraph (c) or
(d), shall be considered durable medical equipment.

(i) Seizure detection devices are covered as durable medical equipment under this
subdivision if:

(1) the seizure detection device is medically appropriate based on the recipient's medical
condition or status; and

(2) the recipient's health care provider has identified that a seizure detection device
would:

(i) likely assist in reducing bodily harm to or death of the recipient as a result of the
recipient experiencing a seizure; or

(ii) provide data to the health care provider necessary to appropriately diagnose or treat
a health condition of the recipient that causes the seizure activity.

(j) For purposes of paragraph (i), "seizure detection device" means a United States Food
and Drug Administration-approved monitoring device and related service or subscription
supporting the prescribed use of the device, including technology that provides ongoing
patient monitoring and alert services that detect seizure activity and transmit notification
of the seizure activity to a caregiver for appropriate medical response or collects data of the
seizure activity of the recipient that can be used by a health care provider to diagnose or
appropriately treat a health care condition that causes the seizure activity. The medical
assistance reimbursement rate for a subscription supporting the prescribed use of a seizure
detection device is 60 percent of the rate for monthly remote monitoring under the medical
assistance telemonitoring benefit.

new text begin (k) Medical assistance covers self-measured blood pressure monitoring devices and
related services.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective January 1, 2026.
new text end