Source: Minnesota Senate Health and Human Services Committee
Auuthor: DIBBLE, Boldon and Gustafson
Date: March 27 and April 1, 2025
URL:
https://legiscan.com/MN/text/SF3179/id/3194838/Minnesota-2025-SF3179-Introduced.pdf
[Introduction and first reading]
Minnesota Senate Bill 3179
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A bill for an act relating to health; requiring issuance of grants by
the commissioner of health to support education and outreach for
myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome; requiring the
commissioner of health to establish a ME/CFS program; requiring
issuance of grants by the commissioner of human services to establish
and improve access to social services for myalgic
encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome; requiring a report;
appropriating money.
Section 1. MYALGIC ENCEPHALOMYELITIS/CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME
GRANTS.
Subdivision 1. Grants authorized.
(a) The commissioner of health must award grants to increase awareness
and understanding of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome
(ME/CFS) among health care professionals, individuals diagnosed with
ME/CFS, individuals with symptoms of ME/CFS and who believe they may
have ME/CFS, health plan companies, and the public. The commissioner
must issue a request for proposals to competitively determine grant
recipients. The grants may be awarded to community health boards as
defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 145A.02, subdivision 5, state
agencies, state councils, or nonprofit corporations.
(b) The commissioner must develop the request for proposals, review the
resulting proposals, and determine grant awards in consultation and
cooperation with members of the ME/CFS community.
(c) The commissioner may contract with members of the ME/CFS community
to perform all or part of the grant award process required under this
subdivision.
(d) For purposes of this subdivision, 'members of the ME/CFS community'
means the following persons among others:
(1) health care providers familiar with the diagnosis, treatment,
and awareness of ME/CFS;
(2) individuals diagnosed with or having symptoms of ME/CFS; and
(3) other individuals with subject matter expertise on ME/CFS.
Subd. 2. Use of grant funds.
(a) Grant recipients must use grant funds to do one or more of the
following:
(1) improve the availability of free, evidence-based, or community
best practice educational materials on ME/CFS to health care
professionals, human resource professionals, and individuals with
ME/CFS symptoms;
(2) raise awareness among health care professionals about ME/CFS
symptoms and the importance of an appropriate ME/CFS diagnosis, symptom
management, identification of associated comorbidities, and
pharmacological treatment options; and
(3) increase public awareness of ME/CFS, ME/CFS symptoms, available
community resources, and practices and techniques to effectively access
and navigate community resources for those experiencing the effects of
ME/CFS.
(b) The commissioner must provide technical assistance and support to
grant recipients to improve outreach and education, especially in
greater Minnesota, Tribal Nations, and marginalized communities, such
as Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, Asian, and other people of color,
LGBTQ+ community, and those experiencing economic insecurity, and other
groups where services to address the effects of ME/CFS have not been
established.
Sec. 2. MYALGIC ENCEPHALOMYELITIS/CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME HUMAN
SERVICES GRANTS.
Subdivision 1. Grants authorized.
(a) The commissioner of human services must award grants to establish
and improve access to services for individuals experiencing effects of
myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The
commissioner must issue a request for proposals to competitively
determine grant recipients. The grants may be awarded to community
health boards as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 145A.02,
subdivision 5, state agencies, state councils, or nonprofit
corporations.
(b) The commissioner must develop the request for proposals, review the
resulting proposals, and determine grant awards in consultation and
cooperation with members of the ME/CFS community.
(c) The commissioner may contract with members of the ME/CFS community
to perform all or part of the grant award process required under this
subdivision.
(d) For purposes of this subdivision, 'members of the ME/CFS community'
means the following persons among others:
(1) health care providers familiar with the diagnosis, treatment,
and awareness of ME/CFS;
(2) individuals diagnosed with or having symptoms of ME/CFS; and
(3) other individuals with subject matter expertise on ME/CFS.
Subd. 2. Use of grant funds.
(a) Grant recipients must use grant funds to establish or facilitate
access to one or more of the following services for individuals
diagnosed with, or seeking a health care or integrative care
professional's evaluation for symptoms of, ME/CFS:
(1) professional or peer delivered supportive counseling, such as
counseling for an individual with symptoms of ME/CFS and caregivers or
family members of an individual with symptoms of ME/CFS;
(2) professional or peer delivered health education;
(3) care coordination;
(4) medical case management, including but not limited to
coordination of medical equipment and home health services;
(5) health or social service transportation services;
(6) outpatient ambulatory services;
(7) social work;
(8) financial assistance;
(9) legal and other nonmedical case management;
(10) referrals for supportive services;
(11) practical support home services, such as assistance with
cooking, laundry, and cleaning;
(12) workplace and disability accommodation counseling and
navigation services; and
(13) professional or peer-led support groups for people with ME/CFS
symptoms, family members, and caregivers.
(b) The commissioner must provide technical assistance and support to
grant recipients to improve outreach and the provision of services,
especially in greater Minnesota, Tribal Nations, marginalized
communities, such as Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, Asian, and other
people of color, LGBTQ+ community, and those experiencing economic
insecurity, and other groups where services to address the effects of
ME/CFS have not been established.
Sec. 3. ME/CFS PROGRAM.
The commissioner of health must establish a program to conduct community
assessments and epidemiologic investigations to monitor and address
impacts of ME/CFS and related conditions. The purposes of these
activities are to:
(1) monitor trends in: incidence, prevalence, mortality, and health
outcomes; changes in disability status, employment, and quality of
life; service needs of individuals with ME/CFS or related conditions
and to detect potential public health problems, predict risks, and
assist in investigating health inequities in ME/CFS and related
conditions;
(2) more accurately target information and resources for communities
and patients and their families;
(3) inform health professionals and citizens about risks and early
detection;
(4) promote evidence-based practices around ME/CFS and related
conditions prevention and management, and to address public concerns
and questions about ME/CFS and related conditions;
(5) identify demographics of those affected by ME/CFS, including but
not limited to:
(i) gender;
(ii) race;
(iii) age;
(iv) geographic location;
(v) economic status; and
(vi) education; and
(6) research and track related conditions.
Sec. 4. REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE.
The commissioners of health and human services must submit a report by
December 1, 2027, to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over
health and human services on the effectiveness of the ME/CFS grants
established in section 1 and the ME/CFS human services grants
established in section 2. The report must include but is not limited to
information on:
(1) the ability of grant recipients to achieve the objectives set
forth in section 1, subdivision 2, paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (3),
and section 2, subdivision 2, paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (13);
(2) additional areas of need for ME/CFS diagnosis, treatment,
symptom management, insurance coverage, and access to health or
integrative providers and social services;
(3) recommended legislative action and a five-year written plan to
improve ME/CFS outcomes, based on quality of life indicators and
deliverables from the grants awarded in sections 1 and 2, in Minnesota;
and
(4) findings from data collection under the program in section 3,
including but not limited to:
(i) demographics, including but not limited to those set forth
in section 3, clause (5);
(ii) common challenges;
(iii) gaps in services;
(iv) disease impacts on individuals, other than economic
effects; and
(v) future community needs.
Sec. 5. APPROPRIATIONS.
Subdivision 1. ME/CFS grants.$....... in fiscal year 2026 is
appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of health for
grants to increase awareness and understanding of ME/CFS among health
care professionals, individuals diagnosed with ME/CFS, individuals with
symptoms of ME/CFS and who believe they may have ME/CFS, health plan
companies, and the public. This is a onetime appropriation and is
available until June 30, 2028.
Subd.
2.ME/CFS human services grants.$....... in fiscal year 2026 is
appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of health for
grants to improve access to services for individuals experiencing
effects of ME/CFS. This is a onetime appropriation and is available
until June 30, 2028.
Subd. 3. ME/CFS program. $....... in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated
from the general fund to the commissioner of health for a program to
conduct community assessments and epidemiologic investigations to
monitor and address impacts of ME/CFS and related conditions. This is
a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2028.
