SF 318

1st Engrossment - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 04/24/2018 03:20pm

A bill for an act
relating to health; creating a working group to study home care nursing workforce
shortage; requiring a report.

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

Section 1. STUDY AND REPORT ON HOME CARE NURSING WORKFORCE
SHORTAGE.

(a) The commissioner of health shall establish a working group to study and report on
the shortage of registered nurses and licensed practical nurses available to provide
low-complexity regular home care services to clients in need of such services, especially
clients covered by medical assistance, and to provide recommendations for ways to address
the workforce shortage. The working group shall consist of at least the following members
appointed by the commissioner of health unless otherwise designated:

(1) one representative appointed by the Professional Home Care Coalition;

(2) one representative appointed by the Minnesota Home Care Association;

(3) one representative appointed by the Minnesota Board of Nursing;

(4) one representative appointed by the Minnesota Nurses Association;

(5) one representative appointed by the Minnesota Licensed Practical Nurses Association;

(6) one representative appointed by the Minnesota Society of Medical Assistants;

(7) two members of the senate, one appointed by the majority leader and one appointed
by the minority leader;

(8) two members of the house of representatives, one appointed by the speaker of the
house and one appointed by the minority leader;

(9) one client who receives regular home care nursing services and is covered by medical
assistance;

(10) one representative from the Department of Human Services; and

(11) one county public health nurse who is a certified assessor.

(b) The commissioner shall convene the first meeting of the working group no later than
August 15, 2017, and shall provide staff support and meeting space for the working group.
The Department of Health and the Department of Human Services shall provide technical
assistance to the working group including providing data documenting the current and
projected workforce shortages in the area of regular home care nursing. The home care and
assisted living program advisory council established under Minnesota Statutes, section
144A.4799, shall provide advice and recommendations to the working group. Working
group members shall serve without compensation.

(c) The working group shall:

(1) quantify the number of low-complexity regular home care nursing hours that are
authorized but not provided to clients covered by medical assistance, due to the shortage
of registered nurses and licensed practical nurses available to provide these home care
services;

(2) quantify the current and projected workforce shortages of registered nurses and
licensed practical nurses available to provide low-complexity regular home care nursing
services to clients, especially clients covered by medical assistance;

(3) develop recommendations for actions to take in the next two years to address the
regular home care nursing workforce shortage, including identifying other health care
professionals who may be able to provide low-complexity regular home care nursing services
with additional training; what additional training may be necessary for these health care
professionals; and how to address scope of practice and licensing issues;

(4) compile reimbursement rates for regular home care nursing from other states and
determine Minnesota's national ranking with respect to reimbursement for regular home
care nursing;

(5) determine whether reimbursement rates for regular home care nursing fully reimburse
providers for the cost of providing the service and whether the discrepancy, if any, between
rates and costs contributes to lack of access to regular home care nursing; and

(6) by January 15, 2018, report on the findings and recommendations of the working
group to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with
jurisdiction over health and human services policy and finance. The working group's report
shall include draft legislation.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective the day following final enactment.