MN HF5115

Medical assistance must cover palliative care services effective July 1, 2026, or upon federal approval, whichever is later, with coverage available for all enrollee populations across all geographic areas and care settings including hospitals, community-based facilities, and home settings.

Reimbursement for palliative care services must be available to all participating medical assistance providers who are part of the patient's full palliative care interdisciplinary team, regardless of care setting.

The commissioner shall adopt rules based on national guidelines and standards for quality palliative care, and must convene stakeholder groups to develop consensus standards covering patient identification, core services, team composition, and reimbursement models.

Provision of palliative care benefits cannot result in elimination or reduction of other covered benefits, and enrollees remain eligible to receive concurrent home health care and other health services to the extent services are not duplicative.

Managed care plans and county-based purchasing plans must provide palliative care coverage as required; an unspecified amount from the general fund is appropriated for fiscal year 2025 to develop the benefit, available until June 30, 2026.