MN HF2441

State registrar with Office of Vital Records must contract with independent third-party entity including epidemiologists and forensic pathologists to audit all COVID-19 deaths and determine medical and nonmedical causes.

Audit entity shall identify overreported and underreported COVID-19 cases and determine whether PCR testing was performed and when testing occurred.

Audit entity granted authority to review death certificates, certificates of removal, medical records, coroner records, and medical examiner records despite data privacy law restrictions.

State registrar must submit audit report within 30 days of completion to legislative health policy and data practices committees, Legislative Commission on Data Practices and Personal Data, and commissioner of health.

Audit results shall be public data with de-identified information; findings shall inform strategies for more accurate reporting and improved COVID-19 prevention and control measures.