Health policy provisions (new law)

Sponsored by Rep. Thomas Huntley (DFL-Duluth) and Sen. Linda Berglin (DFL-Mpls), a new law will make several mostly technical changes regarding health care, sexual offender program regulations and managed care contracts.

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 Board of Dentistry requirements;

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

• restricting the equity interest in the home of a person applying for medical assistance for long-term care services not to exceed $500,000, although if denied assistance they could seek a waiver based upon hardship.

Changes to the sex offender program 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 will develop standards and guidelines to establish criteria for a sex offender treatment advisory board and ensure health, dental and mental care for patients.

The law has various effective dates, with many taking effect Aug. 1, 2008.

HF3222*/SF3168/CH326