MN HF3574

Amends Minnesota Statutes section 145.928 to add "access to and utilization of high-quality prenatal care" as a priority area for the commissioner of health's program to close health disparities affecting American Indians and populations of color.

Requires the commissioner to award grants to eligible applicants for local or regional projects addressing racial and ethnic disparities in infant mortality, prenatal care access and utilization, or immunization rates.

Eligible grant applicants include faith-based organizations, social service organizations, community nonprofits, community health boards, tribal governments, and community clinics; proposals must target one or more priority areas and use research-based or promising strategies.

Commissioner must prioritize applicants whose projects are community-supported, research-based, designed to complement other community activities, impact multiple priority areas, use culturally appropriate approaches, and partner with community-based organizations reflecting the race or ethnicity of the population served.

Appropriates an unspecified amount from the general fund in fiscal year 2019 to the commissioner of health for grants specifically addressing disparities in prenatal care access and utilization.