Health policy provisions

Health care policy provisions and sexual offender program regulations were approved May 5 by a health and human services policy conference committee.

Sponsored by Rep. Thomas Huntley (DFL-Duluth) and Sen. Linda Berglin (DFL-Mpls), HF3222*/SF3168 would make several changes regarding health care; sexual offender program regulations; the definition of “work activity” as it relates to a participant’s qualification for Minnesota Family Investment Program; managed care contracts; and disclosure of adoption information.

Health care provisions include:

• allowing a licensed physician, advanced practice nurse or licensed psychologist to make a diagnosis and determination of attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder;

• requiring hospitals, clinics and medical facilities to have in place by Jan. 15, 2009, a policy for informing a woman of available options for fetal disposition when the woman experiences or is expecting a miscarriage;

• granting a limited license to practice dentistry to a graduate of a non-accredited dental program who successfully completes the clinical licensure examination and meets other requirements of the Board of Dentistry.

• authorizing the human services commissioner to join and participate in a legal entity developing and operating a statewide health information exchange; and

• technical language deletions and additions to the treatment of income for a institutionalized spouse.

Changes to the sex offender program would include establishing Minnesota State Industries at any sex offender program facility and allowing patients to build, manufacture or process goods for business or industry. A working group would develop standards and guidelines to establish criteria for a sex offender treatment advisory board and ensure health, dental and mental care for patients.

Under the bill, adopted people age 19 or older could request a noncertified copy of their original birth record, unless there is an affidavit of nondisclosure on file at the state registrar. Birth parents could rescind an affidavit of disclosure or nondisclosure at any time. If a birth parent is deceased, a noncertified copy of the original birth record would be released to the adopted person making the request.