ST. PAUL, MN—The Minnesota House of Representatives passed Thursday the Omnibus Health and Human Services Bill (Special Session SF2) on a 74-56 vote. The compromise agreement aims to protect Minnesota's most vulnerable citizens while working to address rising costs in the area of Health and Human Services.
"This legislation funds the needs of vulnerable Minnesotans and their gold-hearted caregivers," said Rep. Matt Dean, R-Dellwood, Chair of the House Health and Human Services Finance Committee. "This is our highest priority. We must and will find ways to provide care, to save money, and provide the leadership to make Minnesota the nation leader once again in health care."
- Funds a reduction in TEFRA fees to relieve the financial burden on families with disabled and very sick children;
- Expands the Home and Community-Based Scholarship and nursing facility educational loan forgiveness to recruit and retain quality staff;
- Provides funding for first psychiatric episode treatment and services;
- Provides an operating payment increase for chemical dependency treatment services;
- Increases emergency shelter and transitional housing for sexually exploited youth;
- Implements Safe Harbor for All, a strategic statewide plan for victims of sex trafficking.
Key opioid reforms include:
- Instituting prescription quantity limits;
- Increased opioid prescription disclosure requirements;
- Prohibiting use of pain assessments for patient satisfaction reimbursement incentives;
- MA reimbursement for substance abuse treatment direct injectable drug.
The bill passed the Senate earlier Thursday, and now heads to the governor's desk.
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