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HF4968 • 2026

Health policy changes made to all-payer claims data provisions, newborn screening program, health professional loan forgiveness program, rural residency training program, and international graduates assistance program; and money appropriated.

Health policy changes made to all-payer claims data provisions, newborn screening program, health professional loan forgiveness program, rural residency training program, and international graduates assistance program; and money appropriated.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Bierman
Last action
2026-04-13
Official status
Introduction and first reading, referred to Rules and Legislative Administration
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The plain English breakdown is still being put together. The official documents below are already here.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-13 House

    Introduction and first reading, referred to Rules and Legislative Administration

Official Summary Text

Health policy changes made to all-payer claims data provisions, newborn screening program, health professional loan forgiveness program, rural residency training program, and international graduates assistance program; and money appropriated.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
A bill for an act

relating to health; making health policy changes to all-payer claims data provisions,

newborn screening program, health professional loan forgiveness program, rural

residency training program, and international medical graduates assistance program;

setting fees; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections

62U.04, subdivision 13, by adding a subdivision; 144.1501, subdivision 2;

144.1503, subdivision 7; 144.1505, subdivisions 1, 2, 3; 144.1507, subdivisions

1, 2, 4, by adding a subdivision; 144.1911, subdivisions 1, 5, 6; Minnesota Statutes

2025 Supplement, section 144.125, subdivision 1; Laws 2024, chapter 127, article

67, section 7; Laws 2025, First Special Session chapter 3, article 21, section 3,

subdivision 2.

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

ARTICLE 1

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH APPROPRIATIONS

Section 1.
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HEALTH APPROPRIATIONS.
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The dollar amounts shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are added to or, if

shown in parentheses, are subtracted from the appropriations in Laws 2025, First Special

Session chapter 3, article 21, from the general fund or any named fund and are available

for the fiscal years indicated for each purpose. The figures "2026" and "2027" used in this

article mean that the addition to or subtraction from the appropriations listed under them

are available for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2026, or June 30, 2027, respectively. "The

first year" is fiscal year 2026. "The second year" is fiscal year 2027.

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APPROPRIATIONS

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Available for the Year

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Ending June 30

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2026

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2027

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Sec. 2.
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COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH
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Subdivision 1.

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Total Appropriation

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$

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440,000

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$

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627,000

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Appropriations by Fund

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2026

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2027

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General

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-0-

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-0-

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State Government

Special Revenue

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400,000

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627,000

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The amounts that may be spent for each

purpose are specified in the following

subdivisions.

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Subd. 2.

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Health Improvement

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440,000

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627,000

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Appropriations by Fund

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State Government

Special Revenue

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440,000

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627,000

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(a) $440,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $440,000

in fiscal year 2027 are from the state

government special revenue fund to the

commissioner of health for administering

licensing and regulation of HMOs under

Minnesota Statutes, chapter 62D. In fiscal year

2028 and each year thereafter, the base for this

appropriation is increased by $440,000.

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(b) $187,000 in fiscal year 2027 is from the

state government special revenue fund to the

commissioner of health for administering

all-payer claims data under Minnesota

Statutes, chapter 62U. The base for this

appropriation is increased by $234,000 in

fiscal year 2028 and by $292,000 in fiscal year

2029.

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EFFECTIVE DATE.

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Subdivision 2, paragraph (a), is effective if the commissioner of

health retains authority for administering licensing and regulation of HMOs under Minnesota

Statutes, chapter 62D, by June 30, 2026.

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Sec. 3.

Laws 2024, chapter 127, article 67, section 7, is amended to read:

Sec. 7.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF MNSURE

$

-0-

$

2,330,000

(a)
Information Technology
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to Implement

Federal Deferred Action for Childhood

Arrivals Regulatory Requirements
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.

$2,330,000 in fiscal year 2025 is
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for

information technology to implement federal

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals

regulatory requirements
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to authorize MNsure

to use funds for broader technology and

operational needs. This appropriation supports

information technology enhancements, system

readiness, consumer communications, and

operational adjustments to maintain service

continuity and improve the consumer

experience
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. This is a onetime appropriation

and is available until June 30, 2027.

(b)
Transfer to Enterprise Account.
The

Board of Directors of MNsure must transfer

$2,330,000 in fiscal year 2025 from the

general fund to the enterprise account under

Minnesota Statutes, section
62V.07
. This is a

onetime transfer.

Sec. 4.

Laws 2025, First Special Session chapter 3, article 21, section 3, subdivision 2, is

amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Substance Use Treatment, Recovery,

and Prevention Grants

$3,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $3,000,000

in fiscal year 2027 are from the general fund

for substance use treatment, recovery, and

prevention grants under Minnesota Statutes,

section
342.72
.
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The commissioner may use

up to $300,000 of this appropriation for

administration.
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ARTICLE 2

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH POLICY CHANGES

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 62U.04, subdivision 13, is amended to read:

Subd. 13.

Expanded access to and use of the all-payer claims data.

(a) The

commissioner or the commissioner's designee shall make the data submitted under

subdivisions 4, 5, 5a, and 5b, including data classified as private or nonpublic, available to

individuals and organizations engaged in research on, or efforts to effect transformation in,

health care outcomes, access, quality, disparities, or spending, provided the use of the data

serves a public benefit. Data made available under this subdivision may not be used to:

(1) create an unfair market advantage for any participant in the health care market in

Minnesota, including health plan companies, payers, and providers;

(2) reidentify or attempt to reidentify an individual in the data; or

(3) publicly report contract details between a health plan company and provider and

derived from the data.

(b) To implement paragraph (a), the commissioner shall:

(1) establish detailed requirements for data access; a process for data users to apply to

access and use the data; legally enforceable data use agreements to which data users must

consent; a clear and robust oversight process for data access and use, including a data

management plan, that ensures compliance with state and federal data privacy laws;

agreements for state agencies and the University of Minnesota to ensure proper and efficient

use and security of data; and technical assistance for users of the data and for stakeholders;

(2)
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develop a
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assess fees according to the
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fee schedule
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in subdivision 14
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to support the

cost of expanded access to and use of the data, provided the fees charged under the schedule

do not create a barrier to access or use for those most affected by disparities;
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and
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(3) create a research advisory group to advise the commissioner on applications for data

use under this subdivision, including an examination of the rigor of the research approach,

the technical capabilities of the proposed user, and the ability of the proposed user to

successfully safeguard the data
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.
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; and
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(4) annually publish on the Department of Health website a list of projects authorized

under this subdivision.

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Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 62U.04, is amended by adding a subdivision to

read:

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Subd. 14.

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Fees for expanded access to and use of the all-payer claims database.

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(a)

For purposes of this section:

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(1) "custom data set or analysis" means a de-identified data set or report for which a

standard data set or limited use data sets are not appropriate, that only provides the minimum

necessary data, and that is de-identified using the expert determination method as defined

in Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, section 164.514(b)(1);

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(2) "data file" means a data file derived from medical claims, pharmacy claims, dental

claims, eligibility information, membership information, or provider information for a single

year;

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(3) "limited use data set" means a data set that meets the requirements in Code of Federal

Regulations, title 45, section 164.514(e)(2), and may include protected health information

from which certain direct identifiers of individuals have been removed under the principle

of minimum information necessary; and

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(4) "standard data set" means a static data release designed by the commissioner to serve

a wide range of projects in which nearly all de-identified data elements are disclosed in one

release after applying the safe harbor de-identification method defined in Code of Federal

Regulations, title 45, section 164.514(b)(2), and from which protected health information

and any combination of data elements that directly identify any person are excluded.

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(b) The commissioner must assess fees on an individual or organization that receives

data under subdivision 13 for the cost of accessing or receiving the data. Costs under this

paragraph may include but are not limited to the cost of producing and releasing data to the

individual or organization under subdivision 13 and managing infrastructure and operations.

The commissioner must assess fees according to the following schedule based on the type

of data requested and number of years for which access is requested:

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(1) the fee for a standard data set is $3,500 per data file per year;

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(2) the fee for a limited use data set is $7,000 per data file per year; and

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(3) the fee for a custom data set or analysis is $89 per hour of staff time expended, with

fees not to exceed the cost of 65 hours of staff time.

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(c) An individual or organization that receives approval to access or receive data under

subdivision 13 must pay all the required fees in full before accessing or receiving the

requested data.

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(d) The commissioner may grant a partial or full waiver of the fees in paragraph (b) if

the individual or organization requesting the data meets at least one of the following criteria:

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(1) the fees represent a financial hardship to the individual or organization;

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(2) the organization is a self-insured data submitter under this section;

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(3) the individual or organization is affiliated with an academic institution;

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(4) the individual or organization requests a high volume of data files; or

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(5) the request is from a Tribal health director for, or the governing body of, one of the

11 federally recognized Tribes in Minnesota.

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In determining whether to grant a waiver under this paragraph, the commissioner may

consult the research advisory group established under subdivision 13.

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(e) Fees paid by an individual or organization approved to access or receive data under

subdivision 13 are nonrefundable. Fees collected under this subdivision must be deposited

into an account in the special revenue fund. Money in that account does not cancel and is

appropriated to the commissioner to offset the cost of providing access to data under

subdivision 13 and maintaining data submitted under subdivisions 4 to 5b.

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(f) The commissioner must publish the fee schedule in paragraph (b) on the Department

of Health website.

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Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 144.125, subdivision 1, is amended

to read:

Subdivision 1.

Duty to perform testing.

(a) It is the duty of (1) the administrative officer

or other person in charge of each institution caring for infants 28 days or less of age, (2) the

person required in pursuance of the provisions of section
144.215
, to register the birth of a

child, or (3) the nurse midwife or midwife in attendance at the birth, to arrange to have

administered to every infant or child in its care tests for heritable and congenital disorders

according to subdivision 2 and rules prescribed by the state commissioner of health.

(b) Testing, recording of test results, reporting of test results, and follow-up of infants

with heritable congenital disorders, including hearing loss detected through the early hearing

detection and intervention program in section
144.966
, shall be performed at the times and

in the manner prescribed by the commissioner of health.

(c) The fee to support the newborn screening program, including tests administered

under this section and section
144.966
, shall be $184.35 per specimen. This fee amount

shall be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the state government special revenue

fund.
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If the individual described in paragraph (a) submits a claim for reimbursement to an

insurer but does not receive reimbursement, the individual may request a special fee

exemption form from the newborn screening program. To qualify for the exemption, the

individual must provide documentation to the newborn screening program that the insurer

did not reimburse them.
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(d) The fee to offset the cost of the support services provided under section
144.966,

subdivision 3a
, shall be $15 per specimen. This fee shall be deposited in the state treasury

and credited to the general fund.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.1501, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Availability.

(a) The commissioner of health shall use money appropriated for

health professional education loan forgiveness in this section:

(1) for medical residents, physicians, mental health professionals, and alcohol and drug

counselors agreeing to practice in designated rural areas or underserved urban communities

or specializing in the area of pediatric psychiatry;

(2) for midlevel practitioners agreeing to practice in designated rural areas or to teach

at least 12 credit hours, or 720 hours per year in the nursing field in a postsecondary program

at the undergraduate level or the equivalent at the graduate level;

(3) for nurses who agree to practice in a Minnesota nursing home; in an intermediate

care facility for persons with developmental disability; in a hospital if the hospital owns

and operates a Minnesota nursing home and a minimum of 50 percent of the hours worked

by the nurse is in the nursing home; in an assisted living facility as defined in section

144G.08, subdivision 7
; or for a home care provider as defined in section
144A.43
,

subdivision 4; or agree to teach at least 12 credit hours, or 720 hours per year in the nursing

field in a postsecondary program at the undergraduate level or the equivalent at the graduate

level;

(4) for other health care technicians agreeing to teach at least 12 credit hours, or 720

hours per year in their designated field in a postsecondary program at the undergraduate

level or the equivalent at the graduate level. The commissioner, in consultation with the

Healthcare Education-Industry Partnership, shall determine the health care fields where the

need is the greatest, including, but not limited to, respiratory therapy, clinical laboratory

technology, radiologic technology, and surgical technology;

(5) for pharmacists, advanced dental therapists, dental therapists, and public health nurses

who agree to practice in designated rural areas;

(6) for dentists agreeing to deliver at least 25 percent of the dentist's yearly patient

encounters to state public program enrollees or patients receiving sliding fee schedule

discounts through a formal sliding fee schedule meeting the standards established by the

United States Department of Health and Human Services under Code of Federal Regulations,

title 42, section 51c.303; and

(7) for nurses employed as a hospital nurse by a nonprofit hospital and providing direct

care to patients at the nonprofit hospital.

(b) Appropriations made for health professional education loan forgiveness in this section

do not cancel and are available until expended
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, except that at the end of each biennium, any

remaining balance in the account that is not committed by contract and not needed to fulfill

existing commitments shall cancel to the fund
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.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.1503, subdivision 7, is amended to read:

Subd. 7.

Selection process.

The commissioner shall determine a maximum award for

grants and loan forgiveness, and shall make selections based on the information provided

in the grant application, including the demonstrated need for an applicant provider to enhance

the education of its workforce, the proposed employee scholarship or loan forgiveness

selection process, the applicant's proposed budget, and other criteria as determined by the

commissioner. Notwithstanding any law or rule to the contrary, amounts appropriated for

purposes of this section do not cancel and are available until expended
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, except that at the

end of each biennium, any remaining amount that is not committed by contract and not

needed to fulfill existing commitments shall cancel to the general fund
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.

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.1505, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Definitions.

For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) "eligible advanced practice registered nurse program" means a program that is located

in Minnesota and is currently accredited as a master's, doctoral, or postgraduate level

advanced practice registered nurse program by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing

Education or by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, or
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is
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has presented

a credible plan as
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a candidate for accreditation;

(2) "eligible dental therapy program" means a dental therapy education program or

advanced dental therapy education program that is located in Minnesota and is either:

(i) approved by the Board of Dentistry;
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or
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(ii) currently accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation;
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or
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(iii) has presented a credible plan as a candidate for accreditation;

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(3) "eligible mental health professional program" means a program that is located in

Minnesota and is
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listed
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currently accredited
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as a mental health professional program by the

appropriate accrediting body for clinical social work, psychology, marriage and family

therapy, or licensed professional clinical counseling, or
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is
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has presented a credible plan as
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a candidate for accreditation;

(4) "eligible pharmacy program" means a program that is located in Minnesota and is

currently accredited as a doctor of pharmacy program by the Accreditation Council on

Pharmacy Education
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or has presented a credible plan as a candidate for accreditation
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;

(5) "eligible physician assistant program" means a program that is located in Minnesota

and is currently accredited as a physician assistant program by the Accreditation Review

Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, or
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is
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has presented a credible plan

as
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a candidate for accreditation;

(6) "mental health professional" means an individual providing clinical services in the

treatment of mental illness who meets one of the qualifications under section
245.462
,

subdivision 18;

(7) "eligible physician training program" means
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a medical school training program or
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a

physician residency training program located in Minnesota and that is currently accredited

by the accrediting body or has presented a credible plan as a candidate for accreditation;

(8) "eligible dental program" means a dental education program or a dental residency

training program located in Minnesota and that is currently accredited by the accrediting

body or has presented a credible plan as a candidate for accreditation;
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and
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(9)
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"rural community" means a Tribal Nation, statutory city, home rule charter city, or

township in Minnesota that is outside the seven-county metropolitan area as defined in

section 473.121, subdivision 2, excluding the cities of Duluth, Mankato, Moorhead,

Rochester, and St. Cloud;
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(10) "underserved community" means a Minnesota area or population included in the

list of designated primary medical care health professional shortage areas, medically

underserved areas, or medically underserved populations maintained and updated by the

United States Department of Health and Human Services; and

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(11)
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"project" means a project to
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establish or expand
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(i) plan or implement a new eligible
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clinical training
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for physician assistants, advanced practice registered nurses, pharmacists,

dental therapists, advanced dental therapists, or mental health professionals in Minnesota
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program or increase the base number of trainees in an existing eligible clinical training

program, or (ii) add or expand rural rotations or clinical training experiences in an existing

eligible clinical training program
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.

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.1505, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Programs.

(a) For advanced practice provider clinical training expansion grants,

the commissioner of health shall award
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health professional training site
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grants to eligible

physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse, pharmacy, dental therapy, and mental

health professional programs to plan and implement
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expanded
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a new eligible clinical training

program or increase the base number of trainees in an existing eligible
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clinical training
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program
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.
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Clinical training must take place in rural or underserved communities.
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A planning

grant shall not exceed $75,000, and a three-year training grant shall not exceed $300,000

per project. The commissioner may provide a
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one-year,
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no-cost extension for grants.

(b) For health professional rural
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and underserved
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clinical rotations grants, the

commissioner of health shall award
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health professional training site
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grants to
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existing
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eligible

physician, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse, pharmacy, dentistry,

dental therapy, and mental health professional
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training
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programs to
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augment existing clinical
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training programs to
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add
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, expand, or enhance
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rural
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and underserved
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rotations or clinical

training experiences, such as credential or certificate rural tracks or other specialized training.
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Rotations and clinical training experiences must take place in rural communities.
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For

physician and dentist training, the expanded training must include rotations in primary care

settings such as community clinics, hospitals, health maintenance organizations, or practices

in rural communities.

(c)
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Advanced practice provider clinical training expansion grant
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funds may be used for:

(1)
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establishing or expanding rotations
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planning
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and
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implementing a new
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clinical training
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program or increasing the base number of trainees in an existing clinical training program

as described in paragraph (a)
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;

(2) recruitment, training, and retention of students
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and
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,
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faculty
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, and preceptors
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;

(3) connecting students with appropriate clinical training sites, internships, practicums,

or externship
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activities
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opportunities
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;

(4) travel and lodging for students;

(5) faculty, student, and preceptor salaries, incentives, or other financial support;

(6) development and implementation of
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health equity and
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cultural
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competency
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responsiveness
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training;

(7) evaluations
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of the clinical training program to inform program improvements
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;

(8) training site improvements, fees, equipment, and supplies required to establish,

maintain, or expand a training program;
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and
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(9) supporting clinical education in which trainees are part of a primary care team model
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.
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;

and
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(10) onboarding expenses for trainees to meet clinical training site requirements.

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(d) Health professional rural clinical rotation grant funds may be used for:

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(1) adding, expanding, or enhancing rural rotations and clinical training experiences in

an existing clinical training program as described in paragraph (b);

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(2) recruitment, training, and retention of students, faculty, and preceptors;

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(3) connecting students with appropriate clinical training sites, internships, practicums,

or externship opportunities;

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(4) travel and lodging for students;

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(5) faculty, student, and preceptor salaries, stipends, or other financial support;

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(6) development and implementation of health equity and cultural responsiveness training;

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(7) evaluations of the rural rotation or clinical training experience to inform program

improvements;

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(8) training site improvements, fees, equipment, and supplies required to establish or

expand rural rotations or clinical training experiences;

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(9) supporting clinical education in which trainees are part of a primary care team model;

and

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(10) onboarding expenses for trainees to meet clinical training site requirements.

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Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.1505, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Applications.

Eligible physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse,

pharmacy, dental therapy, dental, physician, and mental health professional programs seeking

a grant shall apply to the commissioner. Applications
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for advanced practice provider clinical

training expansion grants
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must include a description of the number of additional students

who will be trained using grant funds
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;
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and
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attestation that funding will be used to support

an increase in the number of clinical training slots
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;
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.
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All applications must include
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a description of the problem that the proposed project will

address; a description of the project, including all costs associated with the project, sources

of funds for the project, detailed uses of all funds for the project, and the results expected
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;
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,
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and a plan to maintain or operate
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any component included in
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the project after the grant

period
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, including a description of potential barriers to sustainability
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.

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The applicant
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Applicants
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must describe achievable objectives, a timetable, and roles

and capabilities of responsible individuals in the organization.

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Applicants applying under subdivision 2, paragraph (b),
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Applications for rural clinical

rotation grants
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must include
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a description of the new, expanded, or enhanced rural rotations

or clinical training experiences; attestation that funding will be used to support improved

rural clinical training experiences; and
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information about length of training and training site

settings, geographic location of rural sites, and rural populations expected to be served.

Sec. 9.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.1507, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Definitions.

(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have

the meanings given.

(b) "Eligible program" means a program that meets the following criteria:

(1) is located in Minnesota;

(2) trains medical residents in the specialties of family medicine, general internal

medicine, general pediatrics, psychiatry, geriatrics, or general surgery in rural residency

training programs or in community-based ambulatory care centers that primarily serve the

underserved
new text begin
, or trains postdoctoral psychology residents
new text end
; and

(3) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
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or the

American Psychological Association
new text end
or presents a credible plan to obtain accreditation.

new text begin

(c) "Rural community" means a Tribal Nation, statutory city, home rule charter city, or

township in Minnesota that is outside the seven-county metropolitan area as defined in

section 473.121, subdivision 2, excluding the cities of Duluth, Mankato, Moorhead,

Rochester, and St. Cloud.

new text end

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(c)
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new text begin
(d)
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"Rural residency training program" means a
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rural medical
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residency program
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or

a rural psychology residency program
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that provides
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an initial year of
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training in an accredited

residency program in Minnesota.
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The subsequent years of the residency program are
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At

least two-thirds of the residency training must be
new text end
based in rural communities, utilizing local

clinics and community hospitals, with specialty rotations in nearby regional medical centers.
new text begin

When specialty rotations cannot be fulfilled within rural communities, training may occur

in regional or urban sites as long as at least one-half of all training occurs in rural

communities. For residency training programs in general surgery, pediatrics, and psychiatry,

at least one-half of the residency training must be based in communities outside the

seven-county metropolitan area, with rotations in rural communities.
new text end

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(d)
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new text begin
(e)
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"Community-based ambulatory care centers" means federally qualified health

centers, community mental health centers, rural health clinics, health centers operated by

the Indian Health Service, an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization, or an urban American

Indian organization or an entity receiving funds under Title X of the Public Health Service

Act.

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(e)
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(f)
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"Eligible project" means a project to establish and maintain a rural residency

training program.

Sec. 10.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.1507, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Rural residency training program.

(a) The commissioner of health shall

award rural residency training program grants to eligible programs to plan, implement, and

sustain rural residency training programs. A rural
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medical
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residency training program grant

shall not exceed $250,000 per year for up to three years for planning and development, and

$225,000 per resident per year for each year thereafter to sustain the program.
new text begin
A rural

psychology residency training program grant shall not exceed $150,000 per year for up to

three years for planning and development, and $150,000 per resident per year for each year

thereafter to sustain the program. Medical and psychology residency programs that meet

eligibility guidelines and continue to demonstrate financial need will be granted sustaining

funds, renewable every five years.
new text end

(b) Funds may be spent to cover the costs of:

(1) planning related to establishing accredited rural residency training programs;

(2) obtaining accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
new text begin
,

the American Psychological Association,
new text end
or another national body that accredits rural

residency training programs;

(3) establishing new rural residency training programs;

(4) recruitment, training, and retention of new residents and faculty related to the new

rural residency training program;

(5) travel and lodging for new residents;

(6) faculty, new resident, and preceptor salaries related to new rural residency training

programs;

(7) training site improvements, fees, equipment, and supplies required for new rural

residency training programs; and

(8) supporting clinical education in which trainees are part of a primary care team model.

Sec. 11.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.1507, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Consideration of grant applications.

The commissioner shall review each

application to determine if the residency program application is complete, if the proposed

rural residency program and residency slots are eligible for a grant, and if the program is

eligible for federal graduate medical education funding, and when the funding is available.

If eligible programs are not eligible for federal graduate medical education funding, the

commissioner may award continuation funding to the eligible program beyond the initial

grant period
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without requiring a competitive application
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. The commissioner shall award

grants to support training programs in family medicine, general internal medicine, general

pediatrics, psychiatry, geriatrics, general surgery,
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psychology,
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and other primary care focus

areas.

Sec. 12.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.1507, is amended by adding a subdivision

to read:

new text begin

Subd. 6.

new text end

new text begin

Clinical training program coordination.

new text end

new text begin

The commissioner may award grants

to the University of Minnesota to provide technical assistance to residency training programs

for coordinated development of rural clinical training programs.

new text end

Sec. 13.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.1911, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Establishment.

The international medical graduates assistance program

is established to address barriers to practice and facilitate pathways to assist immigrant

international medical graduates to integrate into the Minnesota health care delivery system,

with the goal of increasing access to primary care in rural and underserved areas of the state.
new text begin

Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, appropriations made to the program do not cancel

and are available until expended.
new text end

Sec. 14.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.1911, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Clinical preparation.

(a) The commissioner shall award grants to support

clinical preparation for Minnesota international medical graduates needing additional clinical

preparation or experience to qualify for residency. The grant program shall include:

(1) proposed training curricula;

(2) associated policies and procedures for clinical training sites, which must be part of

existing clinical medical education programs in Minnesota; and

(3) monthly stipends for international medical graduate participants. Priority shall be

given to primary care sites in rural or underserved areas of the state
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, and
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new text begin
.
new text end
International

medical graduate participants
new text begin
who receive support from the international medical graduate

primary care residency grant program
new text end
must commit to serving at least five years in a rural

or underserved community of the state.

(b) The policies and procedures for the clinical preparation grants must be developed

by December 31, 2015, including an implementation schedule that begins awarding grants

to clinical preparation programs beginning in June of 2016.

Sec. 15.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.1911, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

International medical graduate primary care residency grant program

and revolving account.

(a) The commissioner shall award grants to support primary care

residency positions designated for Minnesota immigrant physicians who are willing to serve

in rural or underserved areas of the state. No grant shall exceed $150,000 per residency

position per year. Eligible primary care residency grant recipients include accredited family

medicine, general surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, and

pediatric residency programs. Eligible primary care residency programs shall apply to the

commissioner. Applications must include the number of anticipated residents to be funded

using grant funds and a budget.
deleted text begin
Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, funds awarded to

grantees in a grant agreement do not lapse until the grant agreement expires.
deleted text end
Before any

funds are distributed, a grant recipient shall provide the commissioner with the following:

(1) a copy of the signed contract between the primary care residency program and the

participating international medical graduate;

(2) certification that the participating international medical graduate has lived in

Minnesota for at least two years and is certified by the Educational Commission on Foreign

Medical Graduates. Residency programs may also require that participating international

medical graduates hold a Minnesota certificate of clinical readiness for residency, once the

certificates become available; and

(3) verification that the participating international medical graduate has executed a

participant agreement pursuant to paragraph (b).

(b) Upon acceptance by a participating residency program, international medical graduates

shall enter into an agreement with the commissioner to provide primary care for at least

five years in a rural or underserved area of Minnesota after graduating from the residency

program and make payments to the revolving international medical graduate residency

account for five years beginning in their second year of postresidency employment.

Participants shall pay $15,000 or ten percent of their annual compensation each year,

whichever is less.

(c) A revolving international medical graduate residency account is established as an

account in the special revenue fund in the state treasury. The commissioner of management

and budget shall credit to the account appropriations, payments, and transfers to the account.

Earnings, such as interest, dividends, and any other earnings arising from fund assets, must

be credited to the account. Funds in the account are appropriated annually to the

commissioner to award grants and administer the grant program established in paragraph

(a). Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, any funds deposited in the account do not

expire. The commissioner may accept contributions to the account from private sector

entities subject to the following provisions:

(1) the contributing entity may not specify the recipient or recipients of any grant issued

under this subdivision;

(2) the commissioner shall make public the identity of any private contributor to the

account, as well as the amount of the contribution provided; and

(3) a contributing entity may not specify that the recipient or recipients of any funds use

specific products or services, nor may the contributing entity imply that a contribution is

an endorsement of any specific product or service.