SF 2196

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 03/04/2014 09:17am

A bill for an act
relating to public health; requiring notification of autism service options for
medical assistance and MinnesotaCare recipients; requiring medical assistance to
cover specified services for the treatment of autism; requiring commissioner of
health to research and report on autism; requiring commissioners of health and
human services to train autism service providers; amending Minnesota Statutes
2012, section 256B.0625, by adding a subdivision; proposing coding for new
law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 256.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [256.9621] AUTISM NOTIFICATION.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner of human services shall develop an informational notice for
parents of children with autism who are enrolled in medical assistance or MinnesotaCare
to inform them that their children may qualify to receive services on a fee-for-service basis
instead of through a managed care organization, explain the process of disenrolling from
managed care, and inform them that fee-for-service coverage may provide access to an
expanded set of providers. The commissioner shall make the informational notice available
on the department's public Web site and include a copy of the notice in the next scheduled
mailing to enrolled children. The commissioner shall make language translations of the
notice available on the agency Web site and in the mailing to the enrolled children.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 256B.0625, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 61. new text end

new text begin Services for the treatment of autism. new text end

new text begin Medical assistance services
for the treatment of children with autism spectrum disorder and related conditions
must include applied behavioral analysis (ABA) and neuro-developmental therapy, if
determined by a physician or psychologist to be medically necessary and age appropriate,
and based on current National Institute of Mental Health and Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention guidelines.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin AUTISM RESEARCH AND REPORT.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner of health shall study the prevalence and prevention of autism in
Somali communities in Minnesota. The study must review and analyze the magnitude
and incidence of autism-related health disparities according to age, location, potential
or known toxic environmental exposures, housing conditions, poverty, nutritional
factors, health care access including prescribed medical treatments, the occupational and
residential history of the children's parents, and the children's current residence. The
commissioner shall report results of the analysis and recommendations to the chairs and
ranking minority members of the legislative committees having jurisdiction over public
health and health and human services in the house and senate.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin TRAINING OF AUTISM SERVICE PROVIDERS.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner of health and the commissioner of human services shall ensure
that the departments' autism-related service providers receive training in culturally
appropriate approaches to serving the Somali, Latino, Hmong, and Indigenous American
Indian communities, and other cultural groups experiencing a disproportionate incidence
of autism.
new text end