HF 3820

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/26/2018 05:44pm

A bill for an act
relating to health; establishing a grant program to support implementation of
electronic prescribing for controlled substances; authorizing the commissioner of
health to provide technical assistance and education regarding electronic
prescribing; amending Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 62J.497, by adding
subdivisions.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 62J.497, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Grant program to support implementation and use of e-prescribing for
controlled substances. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of health shall award grants to organizations
or collaboratives for services to support the implementation and use by prescribers and
dispensers of e-prescribing, in compliance with subdivisions 2 and 3 and applicable federal
requirements, for controlled substances. For the purposes of this subdivision, "controlled
substance" means a substance listed in section 152.02, subdivision 3, 4, 5, or 6.
new text end

new text begin (b) To receive a grant under this subdivision, the organization or collaborative must
submit an application to the commissioner of health, in a manner and according to timelines
established by the commissioner. The commissioner shall review each application to
determine whether the application is complete and whether the applicant is eligible for a
grant. The commissioner shall determine the number of grants awarded and the size of each
grant based on need and estimated costs.
new text end

new text begin (c) In evaluating applications, the commissioner shall take into consideration:
new text end

new text begin (1) the degree to which the applicant proposes to address unmet needs of prescribers or
dispensers related to e-prescribing of controlled substances;
new text end

new text begin (2) the degree to which the applicant proposes to serve prescribers or dispensers in rural
and underserved areas of the state; and
new text end

new text begin (3) other factors that the commissioner deems relevant.
new text end

new text begin In awarding grants, the commissioner shall give preference to applicants proposing to serve
rural and underserved areas of the state.
new text end

new text begin (d) The commissioner shall evaluate the overall effectiveness of the grant program in
increasing the implementation and use by prescribers and dispensers of e-prescribing for
controlled substances. In order to evaluate the grant program, the commissioner shall collect
progress and expenditure reports from organizations and collaboratives receiving grants.
The commissioner shall provide annual updates to the legislature on the effectiveness of
the grant program and on the implementation and use of e-prescribing for controlled
substances, as part of annual reports to the legislature required by section 62J.495, subdivision
2.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 62J.497, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Technical assistance and education to support implementation and use of
e-prescribing for controlled substances. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of health, in consultation
with the e-Health Advisory Committee, shall provide statewide technical assistance and
educational resources to prescribers and dispensers regarding implementation and best
practices for the use of e-prescribing, in compliance with subdivisions 2 and 3 and applicable
federal requirements, for controlled substances listed in section 152.02, subdivisions 3, 4,
5, and 6. The technical assistance and educational resources shall address at least the
following:
new text end

new text begin (1) full implementation of all e-prescribing-related transactions in the NCPDP standards;
new text end

new text begin (2) implementation and use of electronic prior authorization;
new text end

new text begin (3) formulary and benefits issues; and
new text end

new text begin (4) other issues that the commissioner deems relevant.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner shall provide annual updates to the legislature on activities under
this subdivision, as part of annual reports to the legislature required by section 62J.495,
subdivision 2.
new text end