HF 4968

04/06/26   REVISOR  SGS/BH  26-08362
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request  State of Minnesota
  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
  NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
  H. F. No.      4968
04/13/2026     Authored by Bierman
  The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration
1.1A bill for an act
1.2relating to health; making health policy changes to all-payer claims data provisions,
1.3newborn screening program, health professional loan forgiveness program, rural
1.4residency training program, and international medical graduates assistance program;
1.5setting fees; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections
1.662U.04, subdivision 13, by adding a subdivision; 144.1501, subdivision 2;
1.7144.1503, subdivision 7; 144.1505, subdivisions 1, 2, 3; 144.1507, subdivisions
1.81, 2, 4, by adding a subdivision; 144.1911, subdivisions 1, 5, 6; Minnesota Statutes
1.92025 Supplement, section 144.125, subdivision 1; Laws 2024, chapter 127, article
1.1067, section 7; Laws 2025, First Special Session chapter 3, article 21, section 3,
1.11subdivision 2.
1.12BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.13ARTICLE 1
1.14DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH APPROPRIATIONS
1.15Section 1. HEALTH APPROPRIATIONS.
1.16The dollar amounts shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are added to or, if
1.17shown in parentheses, are subtracted from the appropriations in Laws 2025, First Special
1.18Session chapter 3, article 21, from the general fund or any named fund and are available
1.19for the fiscal years indicated for each purpose. The figures "2026" and "2027" used in this
1.20article mean that the addition to or subtraction from the appropriations listed under them
1.21are available for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2026, or June 30, 2027, respectively. "The
1.22first year" is fiscal year 2026. "The second year" is fiscal year 2027.
1.23APPROPRIATIONS
1.24Available for the Year
1.25Ending June 30
1.262026  2027
1.27Sec. 2. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH
Article 1 Sec. 2.  1
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2.1  Subdivision 1. Total Appropriation  $    440,000 $  627,000
2.2Appropriations by Fund
2.32026  2027
2.4  General  -0-  -0-
2.5  State Government
2.6  Special Revenue  400,000       627,000
2.7  The amounts that may be spent for each
2.8  purpose are specified in the following
2.9  subdivisions.
2.10 Subd. 2. Health Improvement  440,000  627,000
2.11Appropriations by Fund
2.12 State Government
2.13 Special Revenue  440,000       627,000
2.14 (a) $440,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $440,000
2.15 in fiscal year 2027 are from the state
2.16 government special revenue fund to the
2.17 commissioner of health for administering
2.18 licensing and regulation of HMOs under
2.19 Minnesota Statutes, chapter 62D. In fiscal year
2.20 2028 and each year thereafter, the base for this
2.21 appropriation is increased by $440,000.
2.22 (b) $187,000 in fiscal year 2027 is from the
2.23 state government special revenue fund to the
2.24 commissioner of health for administering
2.25 all-payer claims data under Minnesota
2.26 Statutes, chapter 62U. The base for this
2.27 appropriation is increased by $234,000 in
2.28 fiscal year 2028 and by $292,000 in fiscal year
2.29 2029.
2.30     EFFECTIVE DATE. Subdivision 2, paragraph (a), is effective if the commissioner of
2.31 health retains authority for administering licensing and regulation of HMOs under Minnesota
2.32 Statutes, chapter 62D, by June 30, 2026.
2.33   Sec. 3. Laws 2024, chapter 127, article 67, section 7, is amended to read:
2.34 Sec. 7. BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF MNSURE $  -0- $     2,330,000
Article 1 Sec. 3.  2
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3.1  (a) Information Technology to Implement
3.2  Federal Deferred Action for Childhood
3.3  Arrivals Regulatory Requirements.
3.4  $2,330,000 in fiscal year 2025 is for
3.5  information technology to implement federal
3.6  Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
3.7  regulatory requirements to authorize MNsure
3.8  to use funds for broader technology and
3.9  operational needs. This appropriation supports
3.10 information technology enhancements, system
3.11 readiness, consumer communications, and
3.12 operational adjustments to maintain service
3.13 continuity and improve the consumer
3.14 experience. This is a onetime appropriation
3.15 and is available until June 30, 2027.
3.16 (b) Transfer to Enterprise Account. The
3.17 Board of Directors of MNsure must transfer
3.18 $2,330,000 in fiscal year 2025 from the
3.19 general fund to the enterprise account under
3.20 Minnesota Statutes, section 62V.07. This is a
3.21 onetime transfer.
3.22   Sec. 4. Laws 2025, First Special Session chapter 3, article 21, section 3, subdivision 2, is
3.23 amended to read:
3.24 Subd. 2. Substance Use Treatment, Recovery,
3.25 and Prevention Grants
3.26 $3,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $3,000,000
3.27 in fiscal year 2027 are from the general fund
3.28 for substance use treatment, recovery, and
3.29 prevention grants under Minnesota Statutes,
3.30 section 342.72. The commissioner may use
3.31 up to $300,000 of this appropriation for
3.32 administration.
Article 1 Sec. 4.  3
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4.1ARTICLE 2
4.2DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH POLICY CHANGES
4.3    Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 62U.04, subdivision 13, is amended to read:
4.4      Subd. 13. Expanded access to and use of the all-payer claims data. (a) The
4.5  commissioner or the commissioner's designee shall make the data submitted under
4.6  subdivisions 4, 5, 5a, and 5b, including data classified as private or nonpublic, available to
4.7  individuals and organizations engaged in research on, or efforts to effect transformation in,
4.8  health care outcomes, access, quality, disparities, or spending, provided the use of the data
4.9  serves a public benefit. Data made available under this subdivision may not be used to:
4.10     (1) create an unfair market advantage for any participant in the health care market in
4.11 Minnesota, including health plan companies, payers, and providers;
4.12     (2) reidentify or attempt to reidentify an individual in the data; or
4.13     (3) publicly report contract details between a health plan company and provider and
4.14 derived from the data.
4.15     (b) To implement paragraph (a), the commissioner shall:
4.16     (1) establish detailed requirements for data access; a process for data users to apply to
4.17 access and use the data; legally enforceable data use agreements to which data users must
4.18 consent; a clear and robust oversight process for data access and use, including a data
4.19 management plan, that ensures compliance with state and federal data privacy laws;
4.20 agreements for state agencies and the University of Minnesota to ensure proper and efficient
4.21 use and security of data; and technical assistance for users of the data and for stakeholders;
4.22     (2) develop a assess fees according to the fee schedule in subdivision 14 to support the
4.23 cost of expanded access to and use of the data, provided the fees charged under the schedule
4.24 do not create a barrier to access or use for those most affected by disparities; and
4.25     (3) create a research advisory group to advise the commissioner on applications for data
4.26 use under this subdivision, including an examination of the rigor of the research approach,
4.27 the technical capabilities of the proposed user, and the ability of the proposed user to
4.28 successfully safeguard the data.; and
4.29     (4) annually publish on the Department of Health website a list of projects authorized
4.30 under this subdivision.
Article 2 Section 1.  4
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5.1    Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 62U.04, is amended by adding a subdivision to
5.2  read:
5.3      Subd. 14. Fees for expanded access to and use of the all-payer claims database. (a)
5.4  For purposes of this section:
5.5      (1) "custom data set or analysis" means a de-identified data set or report for which a
5.6  standard data set or limited use data sets are not appropriate, that only provides the minimum
5.7  necessary data, and that is de-identified using the expert determination method as defined
5.8  in Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, section 164.514(b)(1);
5.9      (2) "data file" means a data file derived from medical claims, pharmacy claims, dental
5.10 claims, eligibility information, membership information, or provider information for a single
5.11 year;
5.12     (3) "limited use data set" means a data set that meets the requirements in Code of Federal
5.13 Regulations, title 45, section 164.514(e)(2), and may include protected health information
5.14 from which certain direct identifiers of individuals have been removed under the principle
5.15 of minimum information necessary; and
5.16     (4) "standard data set" means a static data release designed by the commissioner to serve
5.17 a wide range of projects in which nearly all de-identified data elements are disclosed in one
5.18 release after applying the safe harbor de-identification method defined in Code of Federal
5.19 Regulations, title 45, section 164.514(b)(2), and from which protected health information
5.20 and any combination of data elements that directly identify any person are excluded.
5.21     (b) The commissioner must assess fees on an individual or organization that receives
5.22 data under subdivision 13 for the cost of accessing or receiving the data. Costs under this
5.23 paragraph may include but are not limited to the cost of producing and releasing data to the
5.24 individual or organization under subdivision 13 and managing infrastructure and operations.
5.25 The commissioner must assess fees according to the following schedule based on the type
5.26 of data requested and number of years for which access is requested:
5.27     (1) the fee for a standard data set is $3,500 per data file per year;
5.28     (2) the fee for a limited use data set is $7,000 per data file per year; and
5.29     (3) the fee for a custom data set or analysis is $89 per hour of staff time expended, with
5.30 fees not to exceed the cost of 65 hours of staff time.
5.31     (c) An individual or organization that receives approval to access or receive data under
5.32 subdivision 13 must pay all the required fees in full before accessing or receiving the
5.33 requested data.
Article 2 Sec. 2.  5
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6.1      (d) The commissioner may grant a partial or full waiver of the fees in paragraph (b) if
6.2  the individual or organization requesting the data meets at least one of the following criteria:
6.3      (1) the fees represent a financial hardship to the individual or organization;
6.4      (2) the organization is a self-insured data submitter under this section;
6.5      (3) the individual or organization is affiliated with an academic institution;
6.6      (4) the individual or organization requests a high volume of data files; or
6.7      (5) the request is from a Tribal health director for, or the governing body of, one of the
6.8  11 federally recognized Tribes in Minnesota.
6.9  In determining whether to grant a waiver under this paragraph, the commissioner may
6.10 consult the research advisory group established under subdivision 13.
6.11     (e) Fees paid by an individual or organization approved to access or receive data under
6.12 subdivision 13 are nonrefundable. Fees collected under this subdivision must be deposited
6.13 into an account in the special revenue fund. Money in that account does not cancel and is
6.14 appropriated to the commissioner to offset the cost of providing access to data under
6.15 subdivision 13 and maintaining data submitted under subdivisions 4 to 5b.
6.16     (f) The commissioner must publish the fee schedule in paragraph (b) on the Department
6.17 of Health website.
6.18   Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 144.125, subdivision 1, is amended
6.19 to read:
6.20     Subdivision 1. Duty to perform testing. (a) It is the duty of (1) the administrative officer
6.21 or other person in charge of each institution caring for infants 28 days or less of age, (2) the
6.22 person required in pursuance of the provisions of section 144.215, to register the birth of a
6.23 child, or (3) the nurse midwife or midwife in attendance at the birth, to arrange to have
6.24 administered to every infant or child in its care tests for heritable and congenital disorders
6.25 according to subdivision 2 and rules prescribed by the state commissioner of health.
6.26     (b) Testing, recording of test results, reporting of test results, and follow-up of infants
6.27 with heritable congenital disorders, including hearing loss detected through the early hearing
6.28 detection and intervention program in section 144.966, shall be performed at the times and
6.29 in the manner prescribed by the commissioner of health.
6.30     (c) The fee to support the newborn screening program, including tests administered
6.31 under this section and section 144.966, shall be $184.35 per specimen. This fee amount
6.32 shall be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the state government special revenue
Article 2 Sec. 3.  6
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7.1  fund. If the individual described in paragraph (a) submits a claim for reimbursement to an
7.2  insurer but does not receive reimbursement, the individual may request a special fee
7.3  exemption form from the newborn screening program. To qualify for the exemption, the
7.4  individual must provide documentation to the newborn screening program that the insurer
7.5  did not reimburse them.
7.6      (d) The fee to offset the cost of the support services provided under section 144.966,
7.7  subdivision 3a, shall be $15 per specimen. This fee shall be deposited in the state treasury
7.8  and credited to the general fund.
7.9    Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.1501, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
7.10     Subd. 2. Availability. (a) The commissioner of health shall use money appropriated for
7.11 health professional education loan forgiveness in this section:
7.12     (1) for medical residents, physicians, mental health professionals, and alcohol and drug
7.13 counselors agreeing to practice in designated rural areas or underserved urban communities
7.14 or specializing in the area of pediatric psychiatry;
7.15     (2) for midlevel practitioners agreeing to practice in designated rural areas or to teach
7.16 at least 12 credit hours, or 720 hours per year in the nursing field in a postsecondary program
7.17 at the undergraduate level or the equivalent at the graduate level;
7.18     (3) for nurses who agree to practice in a Minnesota nursing home; in an intermediate
7.19 care facility for persons with developmental disability; in a hospital if the hospital owns
7.20 and operates a Minnesota nursing home and a minimum of 50 percent of the hours worked
7.21 by the nurse is in the nursing home; in an assisted living facility as defined in section
7.22 144G.08, subdivision 7; or for a home care provider as defined in section 144A.43,
7.23 subdivision 4; or agree to teach at least 12 credit hours, or 720 hours per year in the nursing
7.24 field in a postsecondary program at the undergraduate level or the equivalent at the graduate
7.25 level;
7.26     (4) for other health care technicians agreeing to teach at least 12 credit hours, or 720
7.27 hours per year in their designated field in a postsecondary program at the undergraduate
7.28 level or the equivalent at the graduate level. The commissioner, in consultation with the
7.29 Healthcare Education-Industry Partnership, shall determine the health care fields where the
7.30 need is the greatest, including, but not limited to, respiratory therapy, clinical laboratory
7.31 technology, radiologic technology, and surgical technology;
7.32     (5) for pharmacists, advanced dental therapists, dental therapists, and public health nurses
7.33 who agree to practice in designated rural areas;
Article 2 Sec. 4.  7
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8.1      (6) for dentists agreeing to deliver at least 25 percent of the dentist's yearly patient
8.2  encounters to state public program enrollees or patients receiving sliding fee schedule
8.3  discounts through a formal sliding fee schedule meeting the standards established by the
8.4  United States Department of Health and Human Services under Code of Federal Regulations,
8.5  title 42, section 51c.303; and
8.6      (7) for nurses employed as a hospital nurse by a nonprofit hospital and providing direct
8.7  care to patients at the nonprofit hospital.
8.8      (b) Appropriations made for health professional education loan forgiveness in this section
8.9  do not cancel and are available until expended, except that at the end of each biennium, any
8.10 remaining balance in the account that is not committed by contract and not needed to fulfill
8.11 existing commitments shall cancel to the fund.
8.12   Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.1503, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
8.13     Subd. 7. Selection process. The commissioner shall determine a maximum award for
8.14 grants and loan forgiveness, and shall make selections based on the information provided
8.15 in the grant application, including the demonstrated need for an applicant provider to enhance
8.16 the education of its workforce, the proposed employee scholarship or loan forgiveness
8.17 selection process, the applicant's proposed budget, and other criteria as determined by the
8.18 commissioner. Notwithstanding any law or rule to the contrary, amounts appropriated for
8.19 purposes of this section do not cancel and are available until expended, except that at the
8.20 end of each biennium, any remaining amount that is not committed by contract and not
8.21 needed to fulfill existing commitments shall cancel to the general fund.
8.22   Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.1505, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
8.23     Subdivision 1. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
8.24     (1) "eligible advanced practice registered nurse program" means a program that is located
8.25 in Minnesota and is currently accredited as a master's, doctoral, or postgraduate level
8.26 advanced practice registered nurse program by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing
8.27 Education or by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, or is has presented
8.28 a credible plan as a candidate for accreditation;
8.29     (2) "eligible dental therapy program" means a dental therapy education program or
8.30 advanced dental therapy education program that is located in Minnesota and is either:
8.31     (i) approved by the Board of Dentistry; or
8.32     (ii) currently accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation; or
Article 2 Sec. 6.  8
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9.1      (iii) has presented a credible plan as a candidate for accreditation;
9.2      (3) "eligible mental health professional program" means a program that is located in
9.3  Minnesota and is listed currently accredited as a mental health professional program by the
9.4  appropriate accrediting body for clinical social work, psychology, marriage and family
9.5  therapy, or licensed professional clinical counseling, or is has presented a credible plan as
9.6  a candidate for accreditation;
9.7      (4) "eligible pharmacy program" means a program that is located in Minnesota and is
9.8  currently accredited as a doctor of pharmacy program by the Accreditation Council on
9.9  Pharmacy Education or has presented a credible plan as a candidate for accreditation;
9.10     (5) "eligible physician assistant program" means a program that is located in Minnesota
9.11 and is currently accredited as a physician assistant program by the Accreditation Review
9.12 Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, or is has presented a credible plan
9.13 as a candidate for accreditation;
9.14     (6) "mental health professional" means an individual providing clinical services in the
9.15 treatment of mental illness who meets one of the qualifications under section 245.462,
9.16 subdivision 18;
9.17     (7) "eligible physician training program" means a medical school training program or a
9.18 physician residency training program located in Minnesota and that is currently accredited
9.19 by the accrediting body or has presented a credible plan as a candidate for accreditation;
9.20     (8) "eligible dental program" means a dental education program or a dental residency
9.21 training program located in Minnesota and that is currently accredited by the accrediting
9.22 body or has presented a credible plan as a candidate for accreditation; and
9.23     (9) "rural community" means a Tribal Nation, statutory city, home rule charter city, or
9.24 township in Minnesota that is outside the seven-county metropolitan area as defined in
9.25 section 473.121, subdivision 2, excluding the cities of Duluth, Mankato, Moorhead,
9.26 Rochester, and St. Cloud;
9.27     (10) "underserved community" means a Minnesota area or population included in the
9.28 list of designated primary medical care health professional shortage areas, medically
9.29 underserved areas, or medically underserved populations maintained and updated by the
9.30 United States Department of Health and Human Services; and
9.31     (11) "project" means a project to establish or expand (i) plan or implement a new eligible
9.32 clinical training for physician assistants, advanced practice registered nurses, pharmacists,
9.33 dental therapists, advanced dental therapists, or mental health professionals in Minnesota
Article 2 Sec. 6.  9
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10.1  program or increase the base number of trainees in an existing eligible clinical training
10.2  program, or (ii) add or expand rural rotations or clinical training experiences in an existing
10.3  eligible clinical training program.
10.4    Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.1505, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
10.5      Subd. 2. Programs. (a) For advanced practice provider clinical training expansion grants,
10.6  the commissioner of health shall award health professional training site grants to eligible
10.7  physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse, pharmacy, dental therapy, and mental
10.8  health professional programs to plan and implement expanded a new eligible clinical training
10.9  program or increase the base number of trainees in an existing eligible clinical training
10.10 program. Clinical training must take place in rural or underserved communities. A planning
10.11 grant shall not exceed $75,000, and a three-year training grant shall not exceed $300,000
10.12 per project. The commissioner may provide a one-year, no-cost extension for grants.
10.13     (b) For health professional rural and underserved clinical rotations grants, the
10.14 commissioner of health shall award health professional training site grants to existing eligible
10.15 physician, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse, pharmacy, dentistry,
10.16 dental therapy, and mental health professional training programs to augment existing clinical
10.17 training programs to add, expand, or enhance rural and underserved rotations or clinical
10.18 training experiences, such as credential or certificate rural tracks or other specialized training.
10.19 Rotations and clinical training experiences must take place in rural communities. For
10.20 physician and dentist training, the expanded training must include rotations in primary care
10.21 settings such as community clinics, hospitals, health maintenance organizations, or practices
10.22 in rural communities.
10.23     (c) Advanced practice provider clinical training expansion grant funds may be used for:
10.24     (1) establishing or expanding rotations planning and implementing a new clinical training
10.25 program or increasing the base number of trainees in an existing clinical training program
10.26 as described in paragraph (a);
10.27     (2) recruitment, training, and retention of students and, faculty, and preceptors;
10.28     (3) connecting students with appropriate clinical training sites, internships, practicums,
10.29 or externship activities opportunities;
10.30     (4) travel and lodging for students;
10.31     (5) faculty, student, and preceptor salaries, incentives, or other financial support;
 Article 2 Sec. 7.  10
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11.1      (6) development and implementation of health equity and cultural competency
11.2  responsiveness training;
11.3      (7) evaluations of the clinical training program to inform program improvements;
11.4      (8) training site improvements, fees, equipment, and supplies required to establish,
11.5  maintain, or expand a training program; and
11.6      (9) supporting clinical education in which trainees are part of a primary care team model.;
11.7  and
11.8      (10) onboarding expenses for trainees to meet clinical training site requirements.
11.9      (d) Health professional rural clinical rotation grant funds may be used for:
11.10     (1) adding, expanding, or enhancing rural rotations and clinical training experiences in
11.11 an existing clinical training program as described in paragraph (b);
11.12     (2) recruitment, training, and retention of students, faculty, and preceptors;
11.13     (3) connecting students with appropriate clinical training sites, internships, practicums,
11.14 or externship opportunities;
11.15     (4) travel and lodging for students;
11.16     (5) faculty, student, and preceptor salaries, stipends, or other financial support;
11.17     (6) development and implementation of health equity and cultural responsiveness training;
11.18     (7) evaluations of the rural rotation or clinical training experience to inform program
11.19 improvements;
11.20     (8) training site improvements, fees, equipment, and supplies required to establish or
11.21 expand rural rotations or clinical training experiences;
11.22     (9) supporting clinical education in which trainees are part of a primary care team model;
11.23 and
11.24     (10) onboarding expenses for trainees to meet clinical training site requirements.
11.25   Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.1505, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
11.26     Subd. 3. Applications. Eligible physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse,
11.27 pharmacy, dental therapy, dental, physician, and mental health professional programs seeking
11.28 a grant shall apply to the commissioner. Applications for advanced practice provider clinical
11.29 training expansion grants must include a description of the number of additional students
 Article 2 Sec. 8.  11
 04/06/26   REVISOR  SGS/BH  26-08362
12.1  who will be trained using grant funds; and attestation that funding will be used to support
12.2  an increase in the number of clinical training slots;.
12.3      All applications must include a description of the problem that the proposed project will
12.4  address; a description of the project, including all costs associated with the project, sources
12.5  of funds for the project, detailed uses of all funds for the project, and the results expected;,
12.6  and a plan to maintain or operate any component included in the project after the grant
12.7  period, including a description of potential barriers to sustainability.
12.8      The applicant Applicants must describe achievable objectives, a timetable, and roles
12.9  and capabilities of responsible individuals in the organization.
12.10     Applicants applying under subdivision 2, paragraph (b), Applications for rural clinical
12.11 rotation grants must include a description of the new, expanded, or enhanced rural rotations
12.12 or clinical training experiences; attestation that funding will be used to support improved
12.13 rural clinical training experiences; and information about length of training and training site
12.14 settings, geographic location of rural sites, and rural populations expected to be served.
12.15   Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.1507, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
12.16     Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
12.17 the meanings given.
12.18     (b) "Eligible program" means a program that meets the following criteria:
12.19     (1) is located in Minnesota;
12.20     (2) trains medical residents in the specialties of family medicine, general internal
12.21 medicine, general pediatrics, psychiatry, geriatrics, or general surgery in rural residency
12.22 training programs or in community-based ambulatory care centers that primarily serve the
12.23 underserved, or trains postdoctoral psychology residents; and
12.24     (3) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education or the
12.25 American Psychological Association or presents a credible plan to obtain accreditation.
12.26     (c) "Rural community" means a Tribal Nation, statutory city, home rule charter city, or
12.27 township in Minnesota that is outside the seven-county metropolitan area as defined in
12.28 section 473.121, subdivision 2, excluding the cities of Duluth, Mankato, Moorhead,
12.29 Rochester, and St. Cloud.
12.30     (c) (d) "Rural residency training program" means a rural medical residency program or
12.31 a rural psychology residency program that provides an initial year of training in an accredited
12.32 residency program in Minnesota. The subsequent years of the residency program are At
 Article 2 Sec. 9.  12
 04/06/26   REVISOR  SGS/BH  26-08362
13.1  least two-thirds of the residency training must be based in rural communities, utilizing local
13.2  clinics and community hospitals, with specialty rotations in nearby regional medical centers.
13.3  When specialty rotations cannot be fulfilled within rural communities, training may occur
13.4  in regional or urban sites as long as at least one-half of all training occurs in rural
13.5  communities. For residency training programs in general surgery, pediatrics, and psychiatry,
13.6  at least one-half of the residency training must be based in communities outside the
13.7  seven-county metropolitan area, with rotations in rural communities.
13.8      (d) (e) "Community-based ambulatory care centers" means federally qualified health
13.9  centers, community mental health centers, rural health clinics, health centers operated by
13.10 the Indian Health Service, an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization, or an urban American
13.11 Indian organization or an entity receiving funds under Title X of the Public Health Service
13.12 Act.
13.13     (e) (f) "Eligible project" means a project to establish and maintain a rural residency
13.14 training program.
13.15   Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.1507, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
13.16     Subd. 2. Rural residency training program. (a) The commissioner of health shall
13.17 award rural residency training program grants to eligible programs to plan, implement, and
13.18 sustain rural residency training programs. A rural medical residency training program grant
13.19 shall not exceed $250,000 per year for up to three years for planning and development, and
13.20 $225,000 per resident per year for each year thereafter to sustain the program. A rural
13.21 psychology residency training program grant shall not exceed $150,000 per year for up to
13.22 three years for planning and development, and $150,000 per resident per year for each year
13.23 thereafter to sustain the program. Medical and psychology residency programs that meet
13.24 eligibility guidelines and continue to demonstrate financial need will be granted sustaining
13.25 funds, renewable every five years.
13.26     (b) Funds may be spent to cover the costs of:
13.27     (1) planning related to establishing accredited rural residency training programs;
13.28     (2) obtaining accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education,
13.29 the American Psychological Association, or another national body that accredits rural
13.30 residency training programs;
13.31     (3) establishing new rural residency training programs;
13.32     (4) recruitment, training, and retention of new residents and faculty related to the new
13.33 rural residency training program;
 Article 2 Sec. 10.  13
 04/06/26   REVISOR  SGS/BH  26-08362
14.1      (5) travel and lodging for new residents;
14.2      (6) faculty, new resident, and preceptor salaries related to new rural residency training
14.3  programs;
14.4      (7) training site improvements, fees, equipment, and supplies required for new rural
14.5  residency training programs; and
14.6      (8) supporting clinical education in which trainees are part of a primary care team model.
14.7    Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.1507, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
14.8      Subd. 4. Consideration of grant applications. The commissioner shall review each
14.9  application to determine if the residency program application is complete, if the proposed
14.10 rural residency program and residency slots are eligible for a grant, and if the program is
14.11 eligible for federal graduate medical education funding, and when the funding is available.
14.12 If eligible programs are not eligible for federal graduate medical education funding, the
14.13 commissioner may award continuation funding to the eligible program beyond the initial
14.14 grant period without requiring a competitive application. The commissioner shall award
14.15 grants to support training programs in family medicine, general internal medicine, general
14.16 pediatrics, psychiatry, geriatrics, general surgery, psychology, and other primary care focus
14.17 areas.
14.18   Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.1507, is amended by adding a subdivision
14.19 to read:
14.20     Subd. 6. Clinical training program coordination. The commissioner may award grants
14.21 to the University of Minnesota to provide technical assistance to residency training programs
14.22 for coordinated development of rural clinical training programs.
14.23   Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.1911, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
14.24     Subdivision 1. Establishment. The international medical graduates assistance program
14.25 is established to address barriers to practice and facilitate pathways to assist immigrant
14.26 international medical graduates to integrate into the Minnesota health care delivery system,
14.27 with the goal of increasing access to primary care in rural and underserved areas of the state.
14.28 Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, appropriations made to the program do not cancel
14.29 and are available until expended.
 Article 2 Sec. 13.  14
 04/06/26   REVISOR  SGS/BH  26-08362
15.1    Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.1911, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
15.2      Subd. 5. Clinical preparation. (a) The commissioner shall award grants to support
15.3  clinical preparation for Minnesota international medical graduates needing additional clinical
15.4  preparation or experience to qualify for residency. The grant program shall include:
15.5      (1) proposed training curricula;
15.6      (2) associated policies and procedures for clinical training sites, which must be part of
15.7  existing clinical medical education programs in Minnesota; and
15.8      (3) monthly stipends for international medical graduate participants. Priority shall be
15.9  given to primary care sites in rural or underserved areas of the state, and. International
15.10 medical graduate participants who receive support from the international medical graduate
15.11 primary care residency grant program must commit to serving at least five years in a rural
15.12 or underserved community of the state.
15.13     (b) The policies and procedures for the clinical preparation grants must be developed
15.14 by December 31, 2015, including an implementation schedule that begins awarding grants
15.15 to clinical preparation programs beginning in June of 2016.
15.16   Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.1911, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
15.17     Subd. 6. International medical graduate primary care residency grant program
15.18 and revolving account. (a) The commissioner shall award grants to support primary care
15.19 residency positions designated for Minnesota immigrant physicians who are willing to serve
15.20 in rural or underserved areas of the state. No grant shall exceed $150,000 per residency
15.21 position per year. Eligible primary care residency grant recipients include accredited family
15.22 medicine, general surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, and
15.23 pediatric residency programs. Eligible primary care residency programs shall apply to the
15.24 commissioner. Applications must include the number of anticipated residents to be funded
15.25 using grant funds and a budget. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, funds awarded to
15.26 grantees in a grant agreement do not lapse until the grant agreement expires. Before any
15.27 funds are distributed, a grant recipient shall provide the commissioner with the following:
15.28     (1) a copy of the signed contract between the primary care residency program and the
15.29 participating international medical graduate;
15.30     (2) certification that the participating international medical graduate has lived in
15.31 Minnesota for at least two years and is certified by the Educational Commission on Foreign
15.32 Medical Graduates. Residency programs may also require that participating international
 Article 2 Sec. 15.  15
 04/06/26   REVISOR  SGS/BH  26-08362
16.1  medical graduates hold a Minnesota certificate of clinical readiness for residency, once the
16.2  certificates become available; and
16.3      (3) verification that the participating international medical graduate has executed a
16.4  participant agreement pursuant to paragraph (b).
16.5      (b) Upon acceptance by a participating residency program, international medical graduates
16.6  shall enter into an agreement with the commissioner to provide primary care for at least
16.7  five years in a rural or underserved area of Minnesota after graduating from the residency
16.8  program and make payments to the revolving international medical graduate residency
16.9  account for five years beginning in their second year of postresidency employment.
16.10 Participants shall pay $15,000 or ten percent of their annual compensation each year,
16.11 whichever is less.
16.12     (c) A revolving international medical graduate residency account is established as an
16.13 account in the special revenue fund in the state treasury. The commissioner of management
16.14 and budget shall credit to the account appropriations, payments, and transfers to the account.
16.15 Earnings, such as interest, dividends, and any other earnings arising from fund assets, must
16.16 be credited to the account. Funds in the account are appropriated annually to the
16.17 commissioner to award grants and administer the grant program established in paragraph
16.18 (a). Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, any funds deposited in the account do not
16.19 expire. The commissioner may accept contributions to the account from private sector
16.20 entities subject to the following provisions:
16.21     (1) the contributing entity may not specify the recipient or recipients of any grant issued
16.22 under this subdivision;
16.23     (2) the commissioner shall make public the identity of any private contributor to the
16.24 account, as well as the amount of the contribution provided; and
16.25     (3) a contributing entity may not specify that the recipient or recipients of any funds use
16.26 specific products or services, nor may the contributing entity imply that a contribution is
16.27 an endorsement of any specific product or service.
 Article 2 Sec. 15.  16
  APPENDIX
  Article locations for 26-08362
ARTICLE 1   DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH APPROPRIATIONS............................. Page.Ln 1.13
ARTICLE 2   DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH POLICY CHANGES............................ Page.Ln 4.1
1