SF 970 Minnesota Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Health insurance, medical assistance and MinnesotaCare coverage of bowel and bladder management for spinal cord injuries requirement and appropriation

This bill requires all health insurance plans in Minnesota to cover bowel and bladder management for spinal cord injuries without cost-sharing (such as deductibles or copays) or additional restrictions like prior authorizations. It directly affects individuals with spinal cord injuries who need these treatments, as well as health insurance companies and state programs like MinnesotaCare and medical assistance. The law mandates coverage for prescribed treatments, supplies, and medications, with the commissioner of commerce reimbursing insurers for added costs through state appropriations. The requirements take effect January 1, 2026, for new health plans.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 3, 2025 Last action Mar 9, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduction 1st Engrossment · 4 edits · Mar 9, 2026
MODERATE
This bill was updated from its introduction to its first engrossment version, reflecting changes made during legislative review. The primary updates involve shifting the effective date of the new health coverage requirements from 2026 to 2027 and clarifying the funding timeline to begin in fiscal year 2028. Additionally, the bill was reorganized to remove a separate section for initial funding estimates, consolidating the financial provisions into a single, clearer mandate for future appropriations.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on requiring health plans to cover bowel and bladder management for spinal cord injuries, but the applicability timeline has been delayed by one year.
TIMELINE

The effective date for the new coverage requirements was changed from January 1, 2026, to January 1, 2027, delaying when health plans must start offering this benefit.

FISCAL

The requirement for the state to pay for these coverage costs was updated to begin in fiscal year 2028, rather than starting immediately in 2026.

A specific section requesting immediate dollar amounts for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 was removed, likely because the funding will be determined annually starting in 2028.

ELIGIBILITY

The baseline for determining which treatments are already covered (and thus not eligible for state reimbursement) was updated from January 1, 2025, to January 1, 2026.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
4
Key actions
1
Committee
2
Mar 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Comm report: To pass as amended and re-refer to Health and Human Services
upper
Feb 3, 2025
Committee
Referred to Commerce and Consumer Protection
upper
Feb 3, 2025
Introduced
Introduction and first reading
upper
1 primary · 3 co-sponsors

Sponsors