SF 86

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 03/18/2025 09:11 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to health; requiring the commissioner of health to establish a school-based
telehealth program; requiring reports; appropriating money; proposing coding for
new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 145.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [145.904] SCHOOL-BASED TELEHEALTH PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of health shall establish a school-based
telehealth program. The commissioner must contract with a single telehealth provider to
provide mental and physical health care to students enrolled in participating school districts.
The commissioner must issue a request for proposals to select the telehealth provider.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the
meanings given.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Health care provider" has the meaning given in section 62A.673, subdivision 2.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Health carrier" has the meaning given in section 62A.011, subdivision 2, and includes
a county-based purchasing plan established under section 256B.692.
new text end

new text begin (d) "Minnesota health care programs" means medical assistance under chapter 256B or
MinnesotaCare under chapter 256L.
new text end

new text begin (e) "School district" or "district" means a public school district or a charter school.
new text end

new text begin (f) "Telehealth" has the meaning given in section 62A.673, subdivision 2.
new text end

new text begin (g) "Telehealth provider" means a person that makes available a technological platform
for the provision of health care services through telehealth and employs the health care
providers who utilize the platform.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Qualified telehealth providers. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall consider responses
to the request for proposals only from applicants that:
new text end

new text begin (1) have experience providing health care through telehealth in educational settings, and
at the time of application are providing access to health care through telehealth to at least
one school district with a student population of 100,000 or more students;
new text end

new text begin (2) have experience in providing culturally competent pediatric health care;
new text end

new text begin (3) demonstrate the ability to provide high-quality physical and behavioral health services
and care coordination through telehealth;
new text end

new text begin (4) demonstrate the ability to employ an adequate number of Minnesota-licensed health
care providers to meet the market demand for services under the program;
new text end

new text begin (5) have a technology platform for the provision and coordination of health care services
that will be made available to participating school districts;
new text end

new text begin (6) can bill health carriers and the Department of Human Services for provided services,
including services provided to fee-for-service Minnesota health care program enrollees and
to individuals enrolled in Minnesota health care program managed care plans; and
new text end

new text begin (7) agree to provide health care services delivered through telehealth free of charge to
students who are uninsured, and to waive or reimburse students for all cost-sharing incurred
for health care services received through the program.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Telehealth provider requirements. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must ensure that the
contract between the commissioner and the selected telehealth provider requires the telehealth
provider to:
new text end

new text begin (1) provide health care services delivered through telehealth free of charge to students
who are uninsured;
new text end

new text begin (2) treat as if uninsured any minor who gives effective consent to medical treatment and
who would otherwise be subject to section 144.347;
new text end

new text begin (3) waive or reimburse students or their families for all cost-sharing incurred for health
care services received through the program;
new text end

new text begin (4) provide the equipment, the telehealth platform, and access to the health care providers
employed by the telehealth provider at no cost to the school district; and
new text end

new text begin (5) allow any school district to elect to participate in the program by entering into a
contract with the telehealth provider.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin School district requirements. new text end

new text begin (a) School districts electing to participate in the
program must:
new text end

new text begin (1) be party to a valid contract with the selected telehealth provider;
new text end

new text begin (2) make health care services provided through the program available at no cost to all
students enrolled in the district; and
new text end

new text begin (3) cooperate with the commissioner and telehealth provider to fulfill any reporting
requirements under this section.
new text end

new text begin (b) School districts participating in the program must not use the health care services
made available under this section to supplant the daily student support provided in the school
by educational student service providers, including but not limited to licensed school nurses,
educational psychologists, school social workers, and school counselors.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Use of funds. new text end

new text begin Money appropriated for the school-based telehealth program
under this section must be used only for the following purposes:
new text end

new text begin (1) to pay the telehealth provider an annual capitation rate of up to $22 per student
enrolled in a participating school district;
new text end

new text begin (2) to reimburse the telehealth provider for the onetime fixed costs for establishing the
school-based telehealth program in a school district; and
new text end

new text begin (3) to evaluate the program.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Reports; evaluation. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner, in cooperation with participating
school districts, shall evaluate the extent to which the program increases student access to
health care services. By January 15, 2027, and every two years thereafter, the commissioner
shall report the results of the evaluation to the chairs and ranking minority members of the
legislative committees with jurisdiction over education finance and policy and health finance
and policy.
new text end

new text begin (b) School districts must provide the commissioner with information the commissioner
deems necessary to monitor the districts' compliance with subdivision 5, paragraph (b). The
commissioner shall include in the commissioner's report to the legislature the commissioner's
conclusions regarding any evidence that participating school districts are violating subdivision
5, paragraph (b).
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2025.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; SCHOOL-BASED TELEHEALTH PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin $20,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $20,000,000 in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated
from the general fund to the commissioner of health for the school-based telehealth program
under Minnesota Statutes, section 145.904.
new text end