1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to health; providing for evidence-based
1.3 	health care guidelines; amending Minnesota Statutes
1.4 	2004, section 62J.43.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 62J.43, is
1.7 	amended to read:
1.8 	62J.43  BEST PRACTICES EVIDENCE-BASED HEALTH CARE
1.9 	GUIDELINES AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENT.
1.10 	(a) To improve quality and reduce health care costs, state
1.11 	agencies shall encourage the adoption use of best practice 
1.12 	evidence-based health care guidelines and participation in best
1.13 	practices evidence-based health care guidelines measurement
1.14 	activities by physicians, other health care providers, and
1.15 	health plan companies.  The commissioner of health shall
1.16 	facilitate access to best practice evidence-based health care 
1.17 	guidelines and quality of care measurement information to
1.18 	providers, purchasers, and consumers by:
1.19 	(1) identifying and promoting local community-based,
1.20 	physician-designed best practices care across the Minnesota
1.21 	health care system that is consistent with evidence-based health
1.22 	care guidelines;
1.23 	(2) disseminating information available to the commissioner
1.24 	on adherence to best practices care by physicians and other
1.25 	health care providers in Minnesota that is consistent with
2.1 	evidence-based health care guidelines;
2.2 	(3) educating consumers and purchasers on how to
2.3 	effectively use this information in choosing their providers and
2.4 	in making purchasing decisions; and
2.5 	(4) making best practices evidence-based health care
2.6 	guidelines and quality care measurement information available to
2.7 	enrollees and program participants through the Department of
2.8 	Health's Web site.  The commissioner may convene an advisory
2.9 	committee to ensure that the Web site is designed to provide
2.10 	user friendly and easy accessibility.
2.11 	(b) The commissioner of health shall collaborate with a
2.12 	nonprofit Minnesota quality improvement organization
2.13 	specializing in best practices and quality of care measurements
2.14 	to provide best practices criteria evidence-based health care
2.15 	guidelines and assist in the collection of the data.
2.16 	(c) The initial best practices evidence-based health care
2.17 	guidelines and quality of care measurement criteria developed 
2.18 	reviewed shall include asthma, diabetes, and at least two other
2.19 	preventive health measures.  Hypertension and coronary artery
2.20 	disease shall be included within one year following availability.
2.21 	(d) The commissioners of human services and employee
2.22 	relations may use the data to make decisions about contracts
2.23 	they enter into with health plan companies.
2.24 	(e) This section does not apply if the best practices 
2.25 	evidence-based health care guidelines authorize or recommend
2.26 	denial of treatment, food, or fluids necessary to sustain life
2.27 	on the basis of the patient's age or expected length of life or
2.28 	the patient's present or predicted disability, degree of medical
2.29 	dependency, or quality of life.
2.30 	(f) The commissioner of health, human services, and
2.31 	employee relations shall report to the legislature by January
2.32 	15, 2005, on the status of best practices evidence-based health
2.33 	care guidelines and quality of care initiatives, and shall
2.34 	present recommendations to the legislature on any statutory
2.35 	changes needed to increase the effectiveness of these
2.36 	initiatives.
3.1 	(g) This section expires June 30, 2006.