Legislative Update
Buck McAlpin- Government Relations
End of Session, 2016
Dear Members,
It’s hard to believe how fast the last 11 weeks passed by and that the 2016 legislative session is completed. The session ended with a “bang” like usual with a last minute deal on a $950 Million dollar bonding bill. The bill passed the house floor and was sent to the senate to be brought up. When the bill reached the senate floor it was amended to add a light rail project in the metro. All this took place within the last 15 minutes before midnight of the 22nd. Remember legislation can’t be considered or voted on past midnight of the 22nd. The bill needed to be re-passed in the house with the light rail amendment added in the senate, which is controversial in the republican house caucus. With all that aside the bill did “not” get re-passed and the bonding bill died. Legislative leadership and the Governors office are in discussions on a possible Special Session to re-consider the bonding bill.
The budget bill conference committee lasted a few weeks and finally wrapped up on Sunday morning early. Obviously the House and Senate had different spending targets as the health budget bill went into conference committee. One of the contentious issues was around using health care access fund money and funding state operated services. The Commissioner of Human Services and the Governors office held tight and received $63 million of the $74 million dollar final budget targets. The $63 million will be used to increase staffing and capacity at the Anoka State hospital and staff the current community based services to help with mental health capacity around the state. That left just $11 million dollars to spend on the entire supplemental budget request for HHS needs. I was very pleased that they funded our 5% rate increase and the Community EMT program.
Still up in the air is if the Governor will call a special session to address the bonding bill and a better/permanent fix to transportation funding.
The MAA legislative committee will begin to meet in June again to discuss our 2017 legislative agenda. Obviously one of the main topics continues to revolve around rural sustainability of EMS.
MN Ambulance Association Stars of Life Program: Looking ahead to the 2017 legislative session the MAA will be firing up the Stars of Life program again. This program recognizes EMS employees at the Capitol that are recommended by their leadership to participate. Watch for more info son from Debbie Gillquist on how to nominate and participate. The Capitol restoration project will be complete late this fall and the new building will be a perfect spot for our 2017 event.
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY:
· Statewide Exemption from the 2% MNCare Provider Tax: SF#2362-Senator Tony Lourey and HF#2564-Representative Nick Zerwas. Would exempt all ambulance services and certified first responder/fire services from the provider tax effective 7-1-2016. The proposal did not move forward this year. The tax committee had a low target and the issue was controversial in the Senate. The Chairs of the tax committee have agreed to meet with the Department of Revenue after session and discuss this issue at length. In Progress
· Ambulance Rate Increase of 5% for Rural Ambulance Services: SF#2640-Senator Lyle Koenen and HF # 3235-Representative Jeff Backer would provide a 5% rate increase to Medicaid payments effective 7-1-2016 In outstate MN. This would be on top of the current 4.5% rate increase we secured last session that goes into effect at the same time. The metro and large communities will see a 4.5% rate increase and the outstate a 9.5% rate increase total. Completed
· Interfering with a Public Safety Helicopter During a Rescue: SF# 2630-Senator Jim Abeler and HF# 2935- Representative Jim Newberger would impose a mis-demeanor and a gross misdemeanor for “ knowingly” interfering with a helicopter at a rescue scene. This language died as part of the Transportation/Bonding deal falling apart the last night of session. Maybe an option to fix during special session if they have one.
· Obstructing Emergency Responders: HF#2557-Representative Pat Garafolo would increase the penalty from a $3,000 fine to $10,000 and increase jail time to a year. The bill has no Senate companion yet and has not been scheduled for a hearing. Dead for session.
· Allowing Pharmacist to Prescribe Narcan: HF# 2507-Representative Barret and SF#2408- Senator Eaton would allow pharmacist to write prescriptions for customers requesting Narcan. This language was negotiated with stakeholders to allow a “larger” Physician prescription written for Pharmacist prescribing. The bill does have opposition and concern from the MMA and MNACEP.
· Prescriber Monitoring Program: SF#1440 Conference Committee report- Representative Dave Baker and Senator Julie Rosen allows the Pharmacy Board to keep data for up to 4-years to track usage and prescribing trends. The bill also gives Physicians more authority to look into the patients PMP. Completed.
· American Heart Association Stemi Bill/EMSRB Technical Bill Amendment: SF# 2480-Senator Wiklund and HF#2613- Representative Peterson has passed all committees and the house and senate floor. The bill was signed into law, chapter 88 by the Governor.
· Emergency Services Providers Mental Health Wellness Funding: HF#2812-Representative Persell and SF# 3048- Senator Jensen would provide $395,000 in funding to MDH to provide grants to numerous organizations including the MAA to develop employee mental health wellness programs. This bill has not been heard yet. Dead for the Session
· Cloquet Fire and Ambulance Taxing District: SF#2271-Senator Lourey and HF# 2571- Representative Sundin was heard in Senate taxes this last Thursday. This legislation provides some clarification to how tax proceeds can be used. This was included and passed in the final tax bill.
· Cook Area Ambulance Levy Update: Senator Tom Bakk offered an amendment in the senate tax committee last week to allow Cook Ambulance to use their current levy for employee cost. This language was included and passed in the final tax bill.
· Statewide Trauma System Changes: SF#2475-Senator Sheran and HF#3142- Representative Nick Zerwas would make some changes to the State Wide Trauma Advisory Council membership and would also change some of the process for designating level IV trauma hospitals. This language passed both the house and senate after a conference committee. Completed
· Data Collection; No-Fault Auto Insurance Claims: SF#2909-Senator Jensen and HF#3456 Representative Loonan would develop a process for collection of no-fault claims to compare to the commercial market. Collect data on how many claims required hospitalization and other forms of treatment. The bill also re-constitutes the no-fault auto task force from last session that the MAA, MHA and MNACEP serve on. This bill is dead for the session.
· 5% Rate Increase for Primary Care and Mental Health: SF# 2754-Senator Kathy Sheran would provide a 5% mental health and primary care rate increase. This bill has no house companion; the language was included in the Governors supplemental budget proposal and the senate HHS finance article. This was not included in the final budget deal
· DOT Enforcement Clarifications for NEMT: HF#3547-Representative Norton and SF#3205-Senator Sheran would allow DOT some clarification around regulating the industry. This language was contained in the house and senate transportation bills that obviously were controversial. We moved the language out of those bills and sent them to the floor as single bills. They both passed this past week. Completed.
· Community EMT Payments Authorized: SF# 3215- Senator Rosen and HF#3582 Representative Tara Mack would authorize Medicaid payments to Community EMTS for providing services detailed in a DHS work group that met between session. This language was included in the final budget deal. Completed
· Narcan Distribution Funding and Training for Opioid Issues: SF#1569 Senator Chris Eaton and HF# 1902 Representative Rod Hamilton would appropriate $3 million dollars to MDH for grants to entities that address the Opioid issues. At this time no money has been identified for Narcan. Working with MDH/DHS on a Federal grant of $9 million they are waiting on. $3 million is targeted for first responder education and product.
· Allowing First Responders to Have Lights and Sirens on Personal Vehicles: HF# 3906-Representative Bob Barrett would allow a process for first responders, firefighters and ambulance personnel to use lights and sirens while responding to calls. This bill did not make committee deadlines.
· Allowing Certain Paraprofessionals to Provide Home Health Work: HF#3929 Representative Bob Barrett and SF#3564 John Hoffman: This bill would allow Certified Paramedics, EMTS and Medical Assistants to provide home health care with additional training. Also to be reimbursed at the Nursing payment rate for similar services. This bill did not make committee deadlines.
· Creates Alternative Residential Placement and Funding: HF# 3055- Representative Matt Dean and SF#2708- Senator Jeff Hayden. Would provide new options for facility beds and funding models to care for chronic medical and serious mental health issues. Develops an ACO model. Was in final budget deal. Completed.
· Excellence in Mental Health Act: HF#2609-Representative Deb Kiel and SF#2549-Senator Tony Lourey. Would develop Certified community behavioral health clinics (CCBHCS). These facilities would receive new funding and follow a care delivery model that follows best practices. The language was included in the House and Senate health budget articles. This was included in the final budget deal. Completed.
· Expanded Capacity at the Anoka-Regional Treatment Center: funding would be spent to increase staff and capacity at the facility. Hopefully improve the process on getting patient into the facility. Also in the Governors budget. Was a major funding initiative in the final budget bill. Completed.
· Public Safety Officer Death Benefits Adjusted: HF#2810-Represenative Howe and SF#2743 Senator Pappas would change the definition of Peace Officer to Public Safety Officer. Adds Heart Attack and Stroke to a reason as pre-sumptive eligibility for death benefits. This proposal has a $260,000 fiscal note and was included in the final budget deal. Completed.
The definition of a “public safety officer” in MS299A.41, subd (4) . . .
(7) a driver or attendant with a licensed basic or advanced life-support transportation service who is engaged in providing emergency care;
(8) a first responder who is certified by the emergency medical services regulatory board to perform basic emergency skills before the arrival of a licensed ambulance service and who is a member of an organized service recognized by a local political subdivision to respond to medical emergencies to provide initial medical care before the arrival of an ambulance;
· State auditor's volunteer firefighter working group recommendations implemented, service credit and service pension eligibility issues addresses: SF#2473-Senator Julie Rosen and HF#3137 Representative O’Driscoll would establish recognition of other emergency responders besides active firefighting to get a fire service pension. It would include ambulance and emergency responders within the municipality who recognizes them. This bill was included in the final budget deal. Completed.
Any questions please feel free to contact me at -763-213-2645