HF504

HF504 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

School-based telehealth program establishment required, reports required, and money appropriated.

Related bill: SF86

AI Generated Summary

This legislative bill proposes the creation of a school-based telehealth program in Minnesota. The key points of the bill are:

Program Establishment: The Commissioner of Health is tasked with setting up a telehealth program specifically for schools. They are to select a single telehealth provider through a competitive bidding process to administer mental and physical healthcare services to students in participating school districts.
Eligibility and Requirements for Providers: The telehealth provider chosen must have experience in delivering healthcare in educational settings and must specialize in pediatrics and cultural competence. They should be able to employ enough licensed healthcare providers to meet the needs of the program and offer a capable technology platform.
Free Services for Uninsured Students: Healthcare delivered via the telehealth provider must be free for uninsured students. Providers may also need to absorb or reimburse any co-payment costs for services accessed through the program.
School District Participation: School districts that choose to join the program are required to offer these telehealth services at no cost to students. They must also ensure that these services complement, rather than replace, existing student support services provided by school professionals like nurses and counselors.
Funding and Use: The funds appropriated for this program will cover payments to the telehealth provider, including per-student fees and one-time setup costs, as well as program evaluation expenses.
Reporting and Evaluation: The Commissioner must regularly evaluate the program's effectiveness in increasing students' access to healthcare and report findings to the legislative bodies responsible for education and health policy every two years. School districts must also provide necessary data to assist in this evaluation.

Overall, the bill aims to improve access to healthcare for students via telehealth, ensuring even uninsured students can receive necessary medical services without cost barriers, and seeks ongoing evaluation to ensure its effectiveness and compliance.

Bill text versions

Introduction PDF file

Actions

Date	Chamber	Where	Type	Name	Committee Name
February 12, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Introduction and first reading, referred to	Health Finance and Policy
February 18, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Author added
February 25, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Author added
February 26, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Author stricken

Citations

[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Defines 'telehealth' provider as part of the school-based telehealth program."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Definitions related to telehealth in the context of this bill point to existing statutes section 62A.673 for the meaning of 'telehealth' and 'health care provider'.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "62A.673"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Incorporates the definitions from section 62A.011 into the new bill regarding telehealth services."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Use of 'health carrier' in this bill refers to its definition in section 62A.011.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "62A.011"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Plans to integrate telehealth services with existing county-based purchasing plans."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Mentions county-based purchasing plan under current section 256B.692.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "256B.692"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Includes telehealth services as a component of existing medical programs."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "References medical assistance as part of the existing Minnesota health care programs under chapter 256B.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "256B"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Extends new telehealth program to apply under existing MinnesotaCare legislation."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Includes MinnesotaCare under chapter 256L in the telehealth services.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "256L"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Treats certain minors as uninsured allowing them direct access to telehealth services if they consent to treatment."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Refers to section 144.347 about the consent to medical treatment of minors.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "144.347"
  }
]