HF4721

Purpose

To expand the volunteer health care provider program in Minnesota by adding more types of health care professionals who can participate and by clarifying the definitions used to administer the program.

Main Provisions

• Amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 214.40 subdivision 1 (definitions) to support the volunteer health care provider program.
• Defines key terms used for the program:
  • Administrative services unit: the administrative services unit for the health-related licensing boards.
  • Charitable organization: a 501(c)(3) organization that sponsors or funds programs to improve quality, awareness, and availability of health care services.
  • Health care facility or organization: a licensed health care facility or a qualifying charitable organization.
  • Health care provider: a broad list of licensed professionals, including physicians, physician assistants, nurses, dentists, dental hygienists, dental therapists (including advanced dental therapists), physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists or audiologists.
  • Health care services: a range of activities such as health promotion, monitoring, education, diagnosis, treatment, minor surgical procedures, local anesthesia for minor procedures, and primary dental services (preventive, diagnostic, restorative, emergency care). It explicitly excludes administration of general anesthesia and major surgical procedures.
  • Medical professional liability insurance: insurance covering claims arising from negligence or malpractice in licensed health care provider services.

How the Bill Changes Existing Law

• Expands the scope of professionals who can participate in the volunteer health care provider program by explicitly listing additional provider categories under the definition of “health care provider.”
• Clarifies what kinds of services can be provided under the program (restricted to health care services that are not general anesthesia or major surgery).
• Establishes or reinforces the framework by which charitable organizations and health care facilities can work within the volunteer program, with administrative oversight by the relevant administrative services unit.

Potential Impacts

• Increases the pool of professionals who can volunteer through the program, potentially improving access to care in communities served by charitable organizations and health care facilities.
• Provides clearer expectations around the types of services that volunteers may perform and the liability protections associated with those services.
• Helps ensure program administration aligns with licensing boards and charitable organizations, potentially reducing barriers to participation.

Significant Changes to Existing Law (at a glance)

• New or clarified definitions to support broader participation in the volunteer health care provider program.
• Inclusion of a wider range of licensed health care professionals as eligible providers.
• Specific delineation of permissible services and the associated liability framework.

Relevant Terms volunteer health care provider program health care provider health care services administrative services unit charitable organization health care facility or organization medical professional liability insurance Minnesota Statutes 214.40 subdivision 1 physician physician assistant nurse dentist dental hygienist dental therapist advanced dental therapist physical therapist occupational therapist speech-language pathologist audiologist local anesthesia minor surgical procedures general anesthesia major surgery licensing boards pro bono health care access to care