1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to health; requiring the commissioner of health to study issues related to
1.3 the development of a statewide registry for provider orders for life-sustaining
1.4 treatment; requiring a report.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. STUDY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STATEWIDE REGISTRY
1.7FOR PROVIDER ORDERS FOR LIFE-SUSTAINING TREATMENT.
1.8 Subdivision 1.Definitions.(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
1.9the meanings given.
1.10 (b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of health.
1.11 (c) "Life-sustaining treatment" means any medical procedure, pharmaceutical drug,
1.12medical device, or medical intervention that maintains life by sustaining, restoring, or
1.13supplanting a vital function. Life-sustaining treatment does not include routine care necessary
1.14to sustain patient cleanliness and comfort.
1.15 (d) "POLST" means a provider order for life-sustaining treatment, signed by a physician,
1.16advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant, to ensure that the medical treatment
1.17preferences of a patient with an advanced serious illness who is nearing the end of the their
1.18life are honored.
1.19 (e) "POLST form" means a portable medical form used to communicate a physician's
1.20order to help ensure that a patient's medical treatment preferences are conveyed to emergency
1.21medical service personnel and other health care providers.
1Section 1.
REVISOR SGS/BM 23-0195701/10/23
State of Minnesota
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. F. No. 474
NINETY-THIRD SESSION
Authored by Huot01/17/2023
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Health Finance and Policy 2.1 Subd. 2.Establishment.(a) The commissioner, in consultation with the advisory
2.2committee established in paragraph (c), shall develop recommendations for a statewide
2.3registry of POLST forms to ensure that a patient's medical treatment preferences are followed
2.4by all health care providers. The registry must allow for the submission of completed POLST
2.5forms and for the forms to be accessed by health care providers and emergency medical
2.6service personnel in a timely manner for the provision of care or services.
2.7 (b) The commissioner shall develop recommendations on the following:
2.8 (1) electronic capture, storage, and security of information in the registry;
2.9 (2) procedures to protect the accuracy and confidentiality of information submitted to
2.10the registry;
2.11 (3) limits as to who can access the registry;
2.12 (4) where the registry should be housed;
2.13 (5) ongoing funding models for the registry; and
2.14 (6) any other action needed to ensure that patients' rights are protected and that their
2.15health care decisions are followed.
2.16 (c) The commissioner shall create an advisory committee with members representing
2.17physicians, physician assistants, advanced practice registered nurses, nursing homes,
2.18emergency medical system providers, hospice and palliative care providers, the disability
2.19community, attorneys, medical ethicists, and the religious community.
2.20 Subd. 3.Report.The commissioner shall submit recommendations on establishing a
2.21statewide registry of POLST forms to the chairs and ranking minority members of the
2.22legislative committees with jurisdiction over health and human services policy and finance
2.23by February 1, 2024, and implement the registry no later than December 1, 2024.
2Section 1.
REVISOR SGS/BM 23-0195701/10/23