Rep. Robert Bierman

Maddy summaryHF 2557 redirects an existing 1.56% surcharge that Minnesota hospitals pay on patient care revenue to the Health Care Access Fund instead of the Medical Assistance Account. This bill directly affects all Minnesota hospitals (excluding federal Indian Health Service facilities and regional treatment centers) that currently pay this surcharge. The key change is shifting the funding destination for the surcharge, which hospitals already pay based on net patient revenues, to support the Health Care Access Fund. The bill does not change the surcharge rate or the hospitals required to pay it.

Maddy summaryHF 2971 appropriates $3.866 million for fiscal year 2026 and another $3.866 million for fiscal year 2027 to help homeowners in nine specific Minnesota counties (Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Wabasha, and Winona) with private wells contaminated by nitrate levels exceeding the safety standard (10 mg/L). The funds cover installing water filtration systems (like reverse osmosis), repairing wells, or reconstructing wells for affected households. Priority is given to households at or below 300% of the federal poverty level and those with infants or pregnant individuals. The commissioner of health will administer the program, including providing education and technical assistance to eligible homeowners.

Maddy summaryHF 1005 adjusts payment rates for healthcare providers under Minnesota's medical assistance program. It increases reimbursement rates for certain residential services, sets a new statewide rate for behavioral health home services, and adjusts physician professional service rates. These changes directly affect hospitals, clinics, and care providers receiving state medical assistance payments for these specific services. The bill amends existing statutes to implement these rate adjustments while requiring budget neutrality for hospital payments. It does not create new programs but modifies existing payment structures for covered services.

Maddy summaryHF 1935 raises reimbursement rates for long-term heart rhythm monitoring services provided by diagnostic testing facilities in Minnesota. Specifically, it requires the state to pay these facilities 100% of the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rate (or higher) for external cardiac patch monitoring devices worn by patients for 48+ hours to detect dangerous heart arrhythmias. This change affects diagnostic testing facilities that provide these specific cardiac monitoring services, which help diagnose conditions that could lead to stroke or cardiac arrest if undetected. The new rate takes effect on January 1, 2026, or after federal approval, whichever comes later.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota law to clarify and limit optometrists' authority to prescribe or administer certain drugs. It specifically sets new time limits: oral antivirals may not be prescribed for more than 10 days, oral steroids for more than 14 days (requiring physician consultation), and oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors for more than seven days. These changes apply directly to licensed optometrists in Minnesota who prescribe medications for eye conditions under the Board of Optometry's rules. The bill maintains existing restrictions on intravenous injections, invasive surgery, and Schedule II/III oral drugs.

Maddy summaryHF 1934 modifies how dental services are administered for MinnesotaCare and medical assistance recipients. It changes the start date for a new dental administrator contract from 2026 to 2030, requires the dental administrator to meet a 55% annual dental visit rate for continuously enrolled members by 2032, and establishes a task force to assess impacts on critical access dental providers. The task force must evaluate financial effects on providers, access to care, and disruptions to integrated medical-dental services. This bill directly affects dental administrators, critical access dental providers, and patients enrolled in MinnesotaCare or medical assistance programs.

Maddy summaryHF 1379 creates a formal "nonopioid directive" process in Minnesota, allowing patients (or their health care agents) to submit written instructions stating they must not receive opioids from health professionals or prescribers. Health care providers must include these directives in patient records and follow them, except in emergency hospital settings where a prescriber deems opioid use medically necessary. The bill also grants legal immunity to health professionals, facilities, and emergency medical services providers who comply with these directives in good faith. The Minnesota Department of Health will develop a standard form for these directives and post it online. This directly affects patients seeking opioid avoidance and all healthcare providers interacting with patient records.

Maddy summaryHF 1472 appropriates $1,995,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $2,071,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the Minnesota Board on Aging. This funding creates specific staff positions to support aging services, including one role for federal compliance, one for Older Americans Act policy, two for Senior LinkAge Line operations, and 18 additional positions for area agencies on aging contact centers. The bill directly affects seniors in Minnesota and the service providers who deliver aging-related programs through the Senior LinkAge Line and area agencies. These concrete staffing additions aim to meet growing service demands and ensure compliance with federal requirements.

Maddy summaryHF 2690 modifies Minnesota's medical assistance dental coverage by requiring the state commissioner to contract with a dedicated dental administrator starting January 1, 2026, if current managed care and county plans fail to meet performance benchmarks for dental access in 2024. This administrator will handle provider networks, claims processing, and ensure recipients have choice of dental providers meeting state payment rates, with a specific requirement that at least 55% of continuously enrolled medical assistance or MinnesotaCare recipients receive a dental visit by 2029. The bill also establishes a Health Services Advisory Council with a dental subcouncil to advise on evidence-based dental policies, coverage, and delivery models. These changes directly affect medical assistance and MinnesotaCare recipients (including low-income populations), dental providers, and managed care plans.

Maddy summaryHF 2856 requires Minnesota's state government to develop and publish a comprehensive plan addressing substance use and addiction. The bill mandates that the subcabinet (within the state government structure) create policies and strategies to reduce barriers to treatment, expand recovery infrastructure like detox facilities and sober housing, and specifically address needs in communities disproportionately impacted by addiction and among people experiencing homelessness. All state agencies operating substance use prevention, treatment, or recovery programs must align their annual goals and budgets with this statewide plan. The new Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Section within the Department of Human Services will coordinate these efforts and oversee implementation.