2005 Minnesota Statutes

     62J.43 Best practices and quality improvement. 

    (a) To improve quality and reduce health care costs, state 
 agencies shall encourage the adoption of best practice 
 guidelines and participation in best practices measurement 
 activities by physicians, other health care providers, and 
 health plan companies.  The commissioner of health shall 
 facilitate access to best practice guidelines and quality of 
 care measurement information to providers, purchasers, and 
 consumers by: 

    (1) identifying and promoting local community-based, 
 physician-designed best practices care across the Minnesota 
 health care system; 

    (2) disseminating information available to the commissioner 
 on adherence to best practices care by physicians and other 
 health care providers in Minnesota; 

    (3) educating consumers and purchasers on how to 
 effectively use this information in choosing their providers and 
 in making purchasing decisions; and 

    (4) making best practices and quality care measurement 
 information available to enrollees and program participants 
 through the Department of Health's Web site.  The commissioner 
 may convene an advisory committee to ensure that the Web site is 
 designed to provide user friendly and easy accessibility. 

    (b) The commissioner of health shall collaborate with a 
 nonprofit Minnesota quality improvement organization 
 specializing in best practices and quality of care measurements 
 to provide best practices criteria and assist in the collection 
 of the data.  

    (c) The initial best practices and quality of care 
 measurement criteria developed shall include asthma, diabetes, 
 and at least two other preventive health measures.  Hypertension 
 and coronary artery disease shall be included within one year 
 following availability.  

    (d) The commissioners of human services and employee 
 relations may use the data to make decisions about contracts 
 they enter into with health plan companies.  

    (e) This section does not apply if the best practices 
 guidelines authorize or recommend denial of treatment, food, or 
 fluids necessary to sustain life on the basis of the patient's 
 age or expected length of life or the patient's present or 
 predicted disability, degree of medical dependency, or quality 
 of life. 

    (f) The commissioner of health, human services, and 
 employee relations shall report to the legislature by January 
 15, 2005, on the status of best practices and quality of care 
 initiatives, and shall present recommendations to the 
 legislature on any statutory changes needed to increase the 
 effectiveness of these initiatives. 

    (g) This section expires June 30, 2006.  

    HIST: 2004 c 288 art 7 s 2