SF 1626

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/02/2017 10:00am

A bill for an act
relating to mental health; expanding distribution of medical education funds to
clinical medical education programs training marriage and family therapists and
professional clinical counselors; establishing mental health practicum incentive
payments; appropriating money for the health professional education loan
forgiveness program; amending Minnesota Statutes 2016, sections 62J.692, subdivisions 1, 3; 245.464, by adding a subdivision.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 62J.692, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Definitions.

For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(a) "Accredited clinical training" means the clinical training provided by a medical
education program that is accredited through an organization recognized by the Department
of Education, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or another national body
who reviews the accrediting organizations for multiple disciplines and whose standards for
recognizing accrediting organizations are reviewed and approved by the commissioner of
health.

(b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of health.

(c) "Clinical medical education program" means the accredited clinical training of
physicians (medical students and residents), doctor of pharmacy practitioners, doctors of
chiropractic, dentists, advanced practice nurses (clinical nurse specialists, certified registered
nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners, and certified nurse midwives), physician assistants,
dental therapists and advanced dental therapists, psychologists, clinical social workers,
community paramedics, deleted text begin and deleted text end community health workers new text begin , marriage and family therapists,
and professional clinical counselors new text end .

(d) "Sponsoring institution" means a hospital, school, or consortium located in Minnesota
that sponsors and maintains primary organizational and financial responsibility for a clinical
medical education program in Minnesota and which is accountable to the accrediting body.

(e) "Teaching institution" means a hospital, medical center, clinic, or other organization
that conducts a clinical medical education program in Minnesota.

(f) "Trainee" means a student or resident involved in a clinical medical education program.

(g) "Eligible trainee FTE's" means the number of trainees, as measured by full-time
equivalent counts, that are at training sites located in Minnesota with currently active medical
assistance enrollment status and a National Provider Identification (NPI) number where
training occurs in either an inpatient or ambulatory patient care setting and where the training
is funded, in part, by patient care revenues. Training that occurs in nursing facility settings
is not eligible for funding under this section.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 62J.692, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Application process.

(a) A clinical medical education program conducted in
Minnesota by a teaching institution to train physicians, doctor of pharmacy practitioners,
dentists, chiropractors, physician assistants, dental therapists and advanced dental therapists,
psychologists, clinical social workers, community paramedics, deleted text begin or deleted text end community health workers new text begin ,
marriage and family therapists, or professional clinical counselors new text end is eligible for funds under
subdivision 4 if the program:

(1) is funded, in part, by patient care revenues;

(2) occurs in patient care settings that face increased financial pressure as a result of
competition with nonteaching patient care entities; and

(3) emphasizes primary care or specialties that are in undersupply in Minnesota.

(b) A clinical medical education program for advanced practice nursing is eligible for
funds under subdivision 4 if the program meets the eligibility requirements in paragraph
(a), clauses (1) to (3), and is sponsored by the University of Minnesota Academic Health
Center, the Mayo Foundation, or institutions that are part of the Minnesota State Colleges
and Universities system or members of the Minnesota Private College Council.

(c) Applications must be submitted to the commissioner by a sponsoring institution on
behalf of an eligible clinical medical education program and must be received by October
31 of each year for distribution in the following year. An application for funds must contain
the following information:

(1) the official name and address of the sponsoring institution and the official name and
site address of the clinical medical education programs on whose behalf the sponsoring
institution is applying;

(2) the name, title, and business address of those persons responsible for administering
the funds;

(3) for each clinical medical education program for which funds are being sought; the
type and specialty orientation of trainees in the program; the name, site address, and medical
assistance provider number and national provider identification number of each training
site used in the program; the federal tax identification number of each training site used in
the program, where available; the total number of trainees at each training site; and the total
number of eligible trainee FTEs at each site; and

(4) other supporting information the commissioner deems necessary to determine program
eligibility based on the criteria in paragraphs (a) and (b) and to ensure the equitable
distribution of funds.

(d) An application must include the information specified in clauses (1) to (3) for each
clinical medical education program on an annual basis for three consecutive years. After
that time, an application must include the information specified in clauses (1) to (3) when
requested, at the discretion of the commissioner:

(1) audited clinical training costs per trainee for each clinical medical education program
when available or estimates of clinical training costs based on audited financial data;

(2) a description of current sources of funding for clinical medical education costs,
including a description and dollar amount of all state and federal financial support, including
Medicare direct and indirect payments; and

(3) other revenue received for the purposes of clinical training.

(e) An applicant that does not provide information requested by the commissioner shall
not be eligible for funds for the current funding cycle.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 245.464, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Practicum incentive payments. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner shall, in consultation
with stakeholders, establish a payment mechanism and criteria for payment to mental health
service providers who demonstrate a commitment to providing students with practicum
opportunities focused on evidence-based treatment interventions.
new text end

new text begin (b) For the purposes of this section:
new text end

new text begin (1) "practicum" means formal experience gained by a student and supervised by a person
licensed under chapter 147, 148B, 148D, or 148F, or sections 148.88 to 148.98 as part of
an accredited school or educational program in counseling, psychology, or a related mental
health field; and
new text end

new text begin (2) "student" means an individual who is enrolled in an accredited educational institution
in counseling, psychology, or a related mental health field that requires practicum experience
for credit.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin APPROPRIATION; HEALTH PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION LOAN
FORGIVENESS PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin $3,000,000 in fiscal year 2018 and $3,000,000 in fiscal year 2019 are appropriated from
the general fund to the commissioner of health for the health professional education loan
forgiveness program under Minnesota Statutes, section 144.1501. Notwithstanding the
priorities and distribution requirements for loan forgiveness in Minnesota Statutes, section
144.1501, subdivision 4, $300,000 of this appropriation is for loan forgiveness to mental
health professionals, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 144.1501, subdivision 1,
paragraph (g), who are practicing in an underserved urban community, as defined in
Minnesota Statutes, section 144.1501, subdivision 1, paragraph (r), and practicing at a
clinical location where at least 50 percent of the clients served are covered by medical
assistance.
new text end