Strategies in the comprehensive drug overdose and morbidity program administered by the commissioner of health modified.

A bill for an act

relating to health; modifying strategies in the comprehensive drug overdose and

morbidity program administered by the commissioner of health; amending

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.0528, subdivision 2.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.0528, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Establishment.

The commissioner of health shall establish a comprehensive

drug overdose and morbidity program to conduct comprehensive drug overdose and morbidity

prevention activities, epidemiologic investigations and surveillance, and evaluation to

monitor, address, and prevent drug overdoses statewide through integrated strategies that

include the following:

(1) advance access to evidence-based nonnarcotic pain management services;

(2) implement culturally specific interventions and prevention programs with population

and community groups in greatest need, including those who are pregnant and their infants;

(3) enhance overdose prevention and supportive services for people experiencing

homelessness. This strategy includes funding for emergency and short-term housing subsidies

through the homeless overdose prevention hub and expanding support for syringe services

programs serving people experiencing homelessness statewide;

(4) equip employers to promote health and well-being of employees by addressing

substance misuse and drug overdose
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;
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. Under this strategy, the commissioner of health must:
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(i) develop and implement a Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative, in consultation

with the commissioner of employment and economic development and the commissioner

of labor and industry;

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(ii) engage in outreach to the business community to create a public-private partnership;

and

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(iii) facilitate the adoption by Minnesota employers of recovery friendly workplace

policies and practices;

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(5) improve outbreak detection and identification of substances involved in overdoses

through the expansion of the Minnesota Drug Overdose and Substance Use Surveillance

Activity (MNDOSA);

(6) implement Tackling Overdose With Networks (TOWN) community prevention

programs;

(7) identify, address, and respond to drug overdose and morbidity in those who are

pregnant or have just given birth through multitiered approaches that may:

(i) promote medication-assisted treatment options;

(ii) support programs that provide services in accord with evidence-based care models

for mental health and substance abuse disorder;

(iii) collaborate with interdisciplinary and professional organizations that focus on quality

improvement initiatives related to substance use disorder; and

(iv) implement substance use disorder-related recommendations from the maternal

mortality review committee, as appropriate; and

(8) design a system to assess, address, and prevent the impacts of drug overdose and

morbidity on those who are pregnant, their infants, and children. Specifically, the

commissioner of health may:

(i) inform health care providers and the public of the prevalence, risks, conditions, and

treatments associated with substance use disorders involving or affecting pregnancies,

infants, and children; and

(ii) identify communities, families, infants, and children affected by substance use

disorder in order to recommend focused interventions, prevention, and services.