SF 3199

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 02/18/2022 08:45am

A bill for an act
relating to health; requiring research and education on uterine fibroids; establishing
a uterine fibroid database; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in
Minnesota Statutes, chapter 144.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [144.6911] UTERINE FIBROID RESEARCH AND EDUCATION.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Findings. new text end

new text begin The legislature finds that:
new text end

new text begin (1) 20 to 50 percent of women of reproductive age currently have uterine fibroids, and
up to 77 percent of women will develop fibroids before menopause;
new text end

new text begin (2) in the United States, an estimated 26,000,000 women between the ages of 15 and 50
have uterine fibroids, and approximately 15,000,000 of these individuals experience
symptoms. Uterine fibroids may cause significant morbidity through their presence in the
uterus and pelvic cavity, and symptoms can include pelvic pain, severe menstrual bleeding,
iron-deficiency anemia, fatigue, bladder or bowel dysfunction, infertility, and pregnancy
complications and loss;
new text end

new text begin (3) the pain, discomfort, stress, and other physical and emotional symptoms of living
with fibroids may significantly interfere with a woman's quality of life, compromising her
ability to function normally or work or care for her family, and may lead to more severe
health and wellness issues;
new text end

new text begin (4) many women with uterine fibroids are undiagnosed. Patients wait on average 3.6
years before seeking treatment, and over 40 percent of patients see two or more health care
providers prior to receiving a diagnosis, underscoring the need for improved awareness and
education;
new text end

new text begin (5) people of color are more likely to develop uterine fibroids. It is estimated that more
than 80 percent of Black women and some 70 percent of white women develop uterine
fibroids by the time they reach menopause. Black women with uterine fibroids have more
severe symptoms and develop early-onset uterine fibroids that develop into larger tumors;
new text end

new text begin (6) symptomatic uterine fibroids can cause reproductive problems, including infertility;
new text end

new text begin (7) there is a remarkable lack of evidence supporting the effectiveness of most
interventions for symptomatic fibroids; and
new text end

new text begin (8) the personal and societal costs of uterine fibroids in the United States are significant.
Uterine fibroid tumors are estimated to cost the United States $5,900,000,000 to
$34,400,000,000 annually. The annual direct costs, including surgery, hospital admissions,
outpatient visits, and medications, are estimated at $4,100,000,000 to $9,400,000,000.
Estimated lost work-hour costs range from $1,550,000,000 to $17,200,000,000 annually.
Obstetric outcomes that were attributed to uterine fibroid tumors resulted in costs of
$238,000,000 to $7,760,000,000 annually.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Research and coordination. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of health shall develop a
program to conduct and support research relating to uterine fibroids. The commissioner
shall consult with and coordinate with public and private entities in ongoing uterine fibroid
research.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Uterine fibroid education program. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of health shall
develop and disseminate to the public information pertaining to uterine fibroids, including
information on:
new text end

new text begin (1) the awareness, incidence, and prevalence of uterine fibroids among individuals,
including all minority individuals;
new text end

new text begin (2) the elevated risk for minority individuals to develop uterine fibroids; and
new text end

new text begin (3) the availability, as medically appropriate, of the range of treatment options for
symptomatic uterine fibroids, including treatments and procedures other than hysterectomy.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner of health shall disseminate information directly or through
arrangement with intra-agency initiatives, nonprofit organizations, consumer groups,
institutions of higher education, and local public-private partnerships.
new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner of health shall, in consultation with and in accordance with
guidelines from relevant medical societies and health professions, work with
health-care-related specialty societies and health systems to promote evidence-based care
for women with uterine fibroids. These efforts shall include identifying minority individuals
who have an elevated risk to develop uterine fibroids. The commissioner shall disseminate
information on the range of available options for the treatment of symptomatic uterine
fibroids, including drugs and devices other than hysterectomy that are approved under the
federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin [144.6912] UTERINE FIBROID DATABASE.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner of health shall establish a statewide population-based uterine fibroid
surveillance system. The purpose of this system is to:
new text end

new text begin (1) monitor incidence trends of uterine fibroids to detect potential public health problems,
predict risks, and assist in investigating incidence among minority populations;
new text end

new text begin (2) more accurately target intervention resources for communities and patients and their
families;
new text end

new text begin (3) inform health professionals and citizens about risks, early detection, and treatment
of uterine fibroid incidences; and
new text end

new text begin (4) promote research to provide better information about uterine fibroids and address
public concerns and questions about uterine fibroids.
new text end

Sec. 3.

new text begin [144.6913] DUTIES OF COMMISSIONER; RULES.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Rule authority. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of health shall collect uterine fibroid
incidence information, analyze the information, and conduct special studies designed to
determine the potential public health significance of an increase in uterine fibroid incidence.
The commissioner shall adopt rules to administer the system, collect information, and
distribute data. The rules must include but not be limited to:
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new text begin (1) the type of data to be reported;
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new text begin (2) standards for reporting specific types of data;
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new text begin (3) payments allowed to hospitals, pathologists, and registry systems to defray their
costs in providing information to the system;
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new text begin (4) criteria relating to contracts made with outside entities to conduct studies using data
collected by the system. The criteria may include requirements for a written protocol outlining
the purpose and public benefit of the study; the description, methods, and projected results
of the study; peer review by other scientists; the methods and facilities to protect the privacy
of the data; and the qualifications of the researcher proposing to undertake the study; and
new text end

new text begin (5) specification of fees to be charged under section 13.03, subdivision 3, for all
out-of-pocket expenses for data summaries or specific analyses of data requested by public
and private agencies, organizations, and individuals that are not otherwise included in the
commissioner's annual summary reports. Fees collected are appropriated to the commissioner
to offset the cost of providing the data.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Biennial report required. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of health shall prepare and
transmit to the governor and to members of the legislature under section 3.195 a biennial
report on the incidence of uterine fibroids in Minnesota and a compilation of summaries
and reports from special studies and investigations performed to determine the potential
public health significance of an increase in uterine fibroid incidence, together with any
findings and recommendations. The first report shall be delivered by February 2024, with
subsequent reports due in February of each of the following odd-numbered years.
new text end

Sec. 4.

new text begin [144.6914] RECORDS AND REPORTS REQUIRED.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Person practicing healing arts. new text end

new text begin A person licensed to practice the healing
arts in any form, upon request of the commissioner of health, shall prepare and forward to
the commissioner, in the manner and at times the commissioner designates, a detailed record
of each case of uterine fibroids professionally treated or seen by the person.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Hospitals and similar institutions. new text end

new text begin A hospital, medical clinic, medical
laboratory, or other institution for the hospitalization, clinical or laboratory diagnosis, or
care of human beings, upon request of the commissioner of health, shall prepare and forward
to the commissioner, in the manner and at times designated by the commissioner, a detailed
record of each case of uterine fibroids.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Reporting without liability. new text end

new text begin Furnishing the information required under
subdivisions 1 and 2 shall not subject the person, hospital, medical clinic, medical laboratory,
or other institution furnishing the information, to any action for damages or other relief.
new text end

Sec. 5.

new text begin [144.6915] CLASSIFICATION OF DATA ON INDIVIDUALS.
new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, including section 13.05, subdivision 9, data
collected on individuals by the uterine fibroid surveillance system, including the names and
personal identifiers of persons required in section 144.6914 to report, shall be private and
may only be used for the purposes set forth in this section and sections 144.6911, 144.6912,
and 144.6913. Any disclosure other than is provided for in this section and sections 144.6911,
144.6912, and 144.6913 is a misdemeanor and punishable as such. Except as provided by
rule and as part of an epidemiologic investigation, an officer or employee of the commissioner
of health may interview patients named in any such report, or relatives of any such patient,
only after obtaining the consent of the attending physician, advanced practice registered
nurse, or surgeon.
new text end

Sec. 6. new text begin APPROPRIATION FOR UTERINE FIBROID RESEARCH AND
EDUCATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of
health for the purposes of Minnesota Statutes, sections 144.6911, 144.6912, 144.6913, and
144.6914.
new text end