SF 2883

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/14/2023 08:22am

A bill for an act
relating to health; establishing the Office of Long-Term Solutions to Healthcare
Disparities and Inequities to address health care needs in the state; requiring a
report; 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 [145.9281] LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS TO HEALTHCARE DISPARITIES
AND INEQUITIES.
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 an Office of
Long-Term Solutions to Healthcare Disparities and Inequities that will address the health
disparities and barriers to accessing health care experienced by specific communities in the
state. The commissioner shall hire a director to lead the office and any staff necessary to
achieve its purpose. The director shall collaborate with community health care organizations
to research health care issues and provide recommendations to state and local governmental
agencies to address the causes of health care disparities and the barriers to health care access
that certain communities experience. The office shall collaborate with organizations that
provide health services to communities where there are barriers to accessing health care
resulting in health inequities. In selecting a director, the commissioner shall appoint an
expert with knowledge of health disparities and expertise in addressing health disparities
and inequities.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin The director shall provide research and recommendations to the
commissioner on:
new text end

new text begin (1) developing a Center of Excellence for Health Disparities reduction;
new text end

new text begin (2) developing educational curriculum to teach emerging health care professions to
identify and address the health care inequities and disparities in underserved communities;
new text end

new text begin (3) changing health rules to prevent the termination from government programs of a
patient impacted by a health care barrier without due process protections;
new text end

new text begin (4) identifying medically underserved areas (MUA) and health professional shortage
areas (HPSA);
new text end

new text begin (5) identifying high-priority public health issues affecting the various health disparities
within various communities;
new text end

new text begin (6) developing strategies and programs to utilize collaborative strategies across health
care institutions to accomplish the objectives of addressing health care disparities and
inequities;
new text end

new text begin (7) providing process improvements for assimilating community health workers into
clinics in areas experiencing health disparities;
new text end

new text begin (8) augmenting health profession loan forgiveness programs for working in a MUA/HPSA
to attract physicians from the National Health Services Corps;
new text end

new text begin (9) recruiting Minnesota primary care residency programs to MUA/HPSA and
post-graduation residency for nurse practitioners in MUA/HPSA;
new text end

new text begin (10) supporting the establishment of community health clinic services under Minnesota
Rules, part 9505.0255. Third-party payors and Department of Human Services must comply
and support claims payments;
new text end

new text begin (11) augmenting the role of essential community providers and the implementation of
the payment system under Minnesota Statutes, section 62Q.19;
new text end

new text begin (12) increasing the community clinic grant under Minnesota Statutes, section 145.9268;
new text end

new text begin (13) determining the socioeconomic and business aspects of minority health for:
new text end

new text begin (i) timing of services including after hours and weekends;
new text end

new text begin (ii) transportation services for the disabled and large families;
new text end

new text begin (iii) cost of extra services for medically complex patients, such as CADI waiver, mobility
and wheelchair equipment and durable medical equipment;
new text end

new text begin (iv) assisted living services; and
new text end

new text begin (v) increasing staffing from minority communities;
new text end

new text begin (14) developing mobile community health clinic services in rural and inner-city areas;
new text end

new text begin (15) establishing mentoring programs in inner cities and rural high schools located in
medically underserved areas;
new text end

new text begin (16) developing two-year health care programs in community colleges in the state; and
new text end

new text begin (17) developing a process to rehabilitate persons previously disqualified for health care
licensure to provide health care services to the person's family, kinship, and the public by
establishing an approval process, supervision, and waivers from the disqualifying rule.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; OFFICE OF LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS TO
HEALTHCARE DISPARITIES AND INEQUITIES.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2024 and $....... in fiscal year 2025 are appropriated from the general
fund to the commissioner of health to establish the office in section 1.
new text end