1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to health; requiring the commissioner of health to establish a school-based
1.3 telehealth program; requiring reports; appropriating money; proposing coding for
1.4 new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 145.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. [145.904] SCHOOL-BASED TELEHEALTH PROGRAM.
1.7 Subdivision 1.Establishment.The commissioner of health shall establish a school-based
1.8telehealth program. The commissioner must contract with a single telehealth provider to
1.9provide mental and physical health care to students enrolled in participating school districts.
1.10The commissioner must issue a request for proposals to select the telehealth provider.
1.11 Subd. 2.Definitions.(a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the
1.12meanings given.
1.13 (b) "Health care provider" has the meaning given in section 62A.673, subdivision 2.
1.14 (c) "Health carrier" has the meaning given in section 62A.011, subdivision 2, and includes
1.15a county-based purchasing plan established under section 256B.692.
1.16 (d) "Minnesota health care programs" means medical assistance under chapter 256B or
1.17MinnesotaCare under chapter 256L.
1.18 (e) "School district" or "district" means a public school district or a charter school.
1.19 (f) "Telehealth" has the meaning given in section 62A.673, subdivision 2.
1Section 1.
REVISOR SGS/DG 25-0063311/19/24
State of Minnesota
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. F. No. 504
NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
Authored by Nadeau, Elkins, Norris, Myers, Curran and others02/13/2025
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Health Finance and Policy 2.1 (g) "Telehealth provider" means a person that makes available a technological platform
2.2for the provision of health care services through telehealth and employs the health care
2.3providers who utilize the platform.
2.4 Subd. 3.Qualified telehealth providers.The commissioner shall consider responses
2.5to the request for proposals only from applicants that:
2.6 (1) have experience providing health care through telehealth in educational settings, and
2.7at the time of application are providing access to health care through telehealth to at least
2.8one school district with a student population of 100,000 or more students;
2.9 (2) have experience in providing culturally competent pediatric health care;
2.10 (3) demonstrate the ability to provide high-quality physical and behavioral health services
2.11and care coordination through telehealth;
2.12 (4) demonstrate the ability to employ an adequate number of Minnesota-licensed health
2.13care providers to meet the market demand for services under the program;
2.14 (5) have a technology platform for the provision and coordination of health care services
2.15that will be made available to participating school districts;
2.16 (6) can bill health carriers and the Department of Human Services for provided services,
2.17including services provided to fee-for-service Minnesota health care program enrollees and
2.18to individuals enrolled in Minnesota health care program managed care plans; and
2.19 (7) agree to provide health care services delivered through telehealth free of charge to
2.20students who are uninsured, and to waive or reimburse students for all cost-sharing incurred
2.21for health care services received through the program.
2.22 Subd. 4.Telehealth provider requirements.The commissioner must ensure that the
2.23contract between the commissioner and the selected telehealth provider requires the telehealth
2.24provider to:
2.25 (1) provide health care services delivered through telehealth free of charge to students
2.26who are uninsured;
2.27 (2) treat as if uninsured any minor who gives effective consent to medical treatment and
2.28who would otherwise be subject to section 144.347;
2.29 (3) waive or reimburse students or their families for all cost-sharing incurred for health
2.30care services received through the program;
2.31 (4) provide the equipment, the telehealth platform, and access to the health care providers
2.32employed by the telehealth provider at no cost to the school district; and
2Section 1.
REVISOR SGS/DG 25-0063311/19/24 3.1 (5) allow any school district to elect to participate in the program by entering into a
3.2contract with the telehealth provider.
3.3 Subd. 5.School district requirements.(a) School districts electing to participate in the
3.4program must:
3.5 (1) be party to a valid contract with the selected telehealth provider;
3.6 (2) make health care services provided through the program available at no cost to all
3.7students enrolled in the district; and
3.8 (3) cooperate with the commissioner and telehealth provider to fulfill any reporting
3.9requirements under this section.
3.10 (b) School districts participating in the program must not use the health care services
3.11made available under this section to supplant the daily student support provided in the school
3.12by educational student service providers, including but not limited to licensed school nurses,
3.13educational psychologists, school social workers, and school counselors.
3.14 Subd. 6.Use of funds.Money appropriated for the school-based telehealth program
3.15under this section must be used only for the following purposes:
3.16 (1) to pay the telehealth provider an annual capitation rate of up to $22 per student
3.17enrolled in a participating school district;
3.18 (2) to reimburse the telehealth provider for the onetime fixed costs for establishing the
3.19school-based telehealth program in a school district; and
3.20 (3) to evaluate the program.
3.21 Subd. 7.Reports; evaluation.(a) The commissioner, in cooperation with participating
3.22school districts, shall evaluate the extent to which the program increases student access to
3.23health care services. By January 15, 2027, and every two years thereafter, the commissioner
3.24shall report the results of the evaluation to the chairs and ranking minority members of the
3.25legislative committees with jurisdiction over education finance and policy and health finance
3.26and policy.
3.27 (b) School districts must provide the commissioner with information the commissioner
3.28deems necessary to monitor the districts' compliance with subdivision 5, paragraph (b). The
3.29commissioner shall include in the commissioner's report to the legislature the commissioner's
3.30conclusions regarding any evidence that participating school districts are violating subdivision
3.315, paragraph (b).
3.32 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2025.
3Section 1.
REVISOR SGS/DG 25-0063311/19/24 4.1 Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; SCHOOL-BASED TELEHEALTH PROGRAM.
4.2 $20,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $20,000,000 in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated
4.3from the general fund to the commissioner of health for the school-based telehealth program
4.4under Minnesota Statutes, section 145.904.
4Sec. 2.
REVISOR SGS/DG 25-0063311/19/24