HF5119

Purpose

To assess whether it is feasible to create a mobile lung cancer screening program for residents of greater Minnesota. The program would use a mobile unit with a computed tomography (CT) scanner and staffed by appropriate health professionals to travel to various locations and screen people for lung cancer.

Main Provisions

• The commissioner of health must conduct a feasibility study of establishing a mobile lung cancer screening program in greater Minnesota.
• The mobile unit would include a CT scanner and be staffed with qualified health professionals and other personnel to screen residents for lung cancer.
• The study must:
  • Estimate costs for equipment and supplies, including purchasing or renting one or more mobile units with CT scanners and other needed equipment.
  • Estimate the numbers and types of health professionals and other staff needed to operate each mobile unit and the associated staffing costs.
  • Identify the services the mobile units would provide, including screening and referrals when appropriate.
  • Identify regions of greater Minnesota with barriers to lung cancer screening.
  • Evaluate how a mobile program could increase access to screening in those regions and estimate how many residents could be screened annually by a mobile unit.
  • Identify and examine any other elements of a program as determined by the commissioner.
• The commissioner must submit a report on the study by February 1, 2027 to the chairs and ranking minority members and the cochairs of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over health policy and finance.

Funding and Fiscal Details

• A onetime appropriation from the general fund to the commissioner of health in fiscal year 2027 is provided to conduct the feasibility study of establishing the mobile lung cancer screening program in greater Minnesota.

Signficant Changes to Existing Law

• Creates a mandate for a feasibility study and related reporting regarding a new mobile lung cancer screening concept for greater Minnesota.
• Provides a one-time general fund appropriation in FY2027 to fund the study.
• Establishes a reporting requirement to key legislative committees, which could inform future health policy decisions.

Implementation Timeline

• Study to be conducted with a final report due by February 1, 2027.

Notes

• The bill focuses on examining feasibility and funding needs rather than authorizing an ongoing program at this time.

Relevant Terms feasibility study mobile lung cancer screening program greater Minnesota computed tomography scanner CT scanner mobile unit screening for lung cancer referrals barriers to lung cancer screening staffing costs equipment and supplies purchasing or renting mobile units general fund fiscal year 2027 February 1, 2027 report chairs ranking minority members cochairs legislative committees health policy and finance one-time appropriation health policy public health funding