Patient-Centered Care program establishment

SF 1059 establishes Minnesota's Patient-Centered Care program to directly pay healthcare providers for services to medical assistance and MinnesotaCare enrollees, replacing current managed care contracts. The bill requires the state commissioner to pay providers directly (not through managed care organizations) for all services, including separate payments for drugs and vaccines, and adds monthly care coordination fees for primary care providers. It also funds community health workers to conduct outreach for vulnerable populations (like those experiencing homelessness or mental illness) and reduce hospital readmissions through discharge planning. This affects approximately 600,000 Minnesotans enrolled in medical assistance or MinnesotaCare programs.