SF4583 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Protections to participants in and employees and operators of a health care provider wellness program provision
Related bill: HF3978
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
- Establish a Physician Health Care Provider Wellness Program to help physicians with career fatigue and work-stress-related wellness.
- The program is run by a statewide association that is tax-exempt under 501(c)(6) and represents physicians and osteopaths from multiple specialties.
- The program is voluntary and separate from rules that monitor impairment.
Main provisions
- Definition of terms:
- Health care provider: someone licensed or registered by Minnesota to provide health care.
- Physician Health Care Provider Wellness Program: a program offering evaluation, counseling, or other methods to address career fatigue or work-stress wellness for physicians licensed under chapter 147.
- Scope and administration:
- The program is administered by a statewide 501(c)(6) association that primarily represents physicians and osteopaths across specialties.
- The program does not function as impairment monitoring under the existing impairment rules (distinct from impairment procedures).
- Confidentiality:
- Any participation records in the wellness program are confidential.
- These records cannot be used in discovery, subpoena, or for reporting to health-related licensing boards or the commissioner, unless the participant voluntarily releases information or the disclosure is required to meet the licensee’s obligation to report certain information under section 147.111.
- Civil liability protection:
- Individuals, agencies, institutions, facilities, or organizations that contract with or operate the wellness program are immune from civil liability for actions taken in good faith as part of the program.
Significant changes to existing law
- Adds a new framework under Minnesota Statutes §214.41 to create and govern a physician-specific wellness program.
- Establishes confidentiality protections that shield participation records from legal scrutiny, with specific exceptions for voluntary releases or mandated reporting under existing statutes.
- Provides civil liability immunity for entities operating or contracting with the program, as long as actions are in good faith.
Practical implications
- Participation in the wellness program is voluntary and separate from formal impairment monitoring or disciplinary processes.
- Physicians and providers have a confidential access point to address work-related stress and fatigue without automatically triggering licensing or public reporting.
- Organizations that run or support the program gain legal protection from liability when acting in good faith.
Relevant Terms - Physician Health Care Provider Wellness Program - health care provider - evaluation - counseling - career fatigue - work stress - confidentiality - discovery - subpoena - health-related licensing board - commissioner - section 147.111 - impairment - Minnesota Statutes 214.41 - 501(c)(6) - good faith - civil liability immunity - statewide association - physicians - osteopaths - chapter 147
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF PDF file
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 18, 2026 | Senate | Action | Introduction and first reading | ||
| March 18, 2026 | Senate | Action | Referred to | Health and Human Services |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"New definition of physician health care provider wellness program and related terms.",
"Program is administered by a statewide association exempt under 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(6)."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Defines and creates the physician health care provider wellness program, with definitions for health care provider and the wellness program administered by a statewide association exempt under 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(6).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "214.41",
"subdivision": "subd.1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Confidentiality of participation records; records not subject to discovery, subpoena, or licensing board reporting unless consent or statutory reporting obligations apply."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Confidentiality of records related to participation in the wellness program; disclosure allowed only with written release or to meet certain reporting requirements to licensing boards or the commissioner of health per 147.111.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "214.41",
"subdivision": "subd.2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Civil liability immunity for persons or organizations operating or contracted to run the wellness program, when acting in good faith."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Immunity from civil liability for actions related to duties in operating the wellness program when acting in good faith.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "214.41",
"subdivision": "subd.3"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "The wellness program does not include services intended to monitor for impairment under the authority of Minnesota Statutes section 214.31.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "214.31",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Physicians licensed under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 147 are the target professionals for the wellness program.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "147",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "References to reporting obligations to health-related licensing boards or the Commissioner of Health under section 147.111.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "147.111",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"reference to federal tax-exemption status of the administering association."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "The wellness program is administered by a statewide association exempt under federal tax law 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(6).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(6)",
"subdivision": ""
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee