Health panel walks through policy bill with vote expected Thursday

The House Health Finance and Policy Committee is expected to vote on an extensive policy bill Thursday that considers the scope of practice and licensing for various medical professionals.

The committee reviewed HF4247, as amended, Wednesday and took testimony. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL-Rochester).

Of considerable discussion was the proposed repeal of a state law subdivision that pertains to the scope of practice for physician assistants.

Rep. Tina Liebling

Under current law, a physician assistant must collaborate with a licensed physician to provide ongoing psychiatric treatment to children with emotional disturbances or adults with serious mental illness. A practice agreement must define the collaboration, including appropriate consultation or referral to psychiatry.

“There is no reason to repeal this part of the statute,” said Sue Abderholden, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Minnesota. She said physicians assistants are not trained sufficiently to address illnesses as complex as schizophrenia without the collaboration of a licensed physician.

Presenting a different point of view was Tom Lehman. Representing the Minnesota Academy of Physician Assistants, he said the change is needed because the demand for mental health services is rising while the number of workers is declining. The repeal is supported by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice, which investigates any claim of harm.

“It will make a meaningful difference,” Lehman said.

The bill would also:

• let transfer care specialists remove human bodies from the place of death, provide registration of transfer care specialists, and add a mortuary science fee;
• regulate veterinary technicians, the practice of veterinary technology, and unlicensed veterinary employees;
• amend veterinary medicine licensing for University of Minnesota employees;
• modify requirements for licensure by credentials for dental assistants;
• modify and recodify social worker provisional licensure;
• establish licensing requirements for behavior analysts and assistant behavior analysts, provide criminal penalties, and appropriate money;
• modify specialty dentistry licensure practice limitation;
• establish marriage and family therapy guest licensure and fees;
• amend opiate product manufacturer reporting requirements and the opiate product registration fee determination process; and
• establish relocation and change of ownership fees for persons registered with or licensed by the Board of Pharmacy.

Proposed changes in the bill produce a net fiscal year 2025 expenditure of $138,000 from the state government special revenue fund.

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What’s in the bill?

The following are selected bills that have been incorporated in part or whole into the scope of practice and licensing policy bill:

• HF1228 (Huot)
• HF1817 (Huot)
• HF2111 (Huot)
• HF2509 (Huot)
• HF3494 (Bahner)
• HF3612 (Reyer)
• HF3626 (Vang)
• HF3741 (Edelson)
• HF4098 (Hemmingsen-Jaeger)
• HF4099 (Hemmingsen-Jaeger)
• HF4247 (Liebling)