[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6621954,"mediaKeyId","2793761-98f5012968e596efb26d751c3463e97b","parentId",2793761,"title","DHS revises pharmacy carve-out timetable, updates housing-stabilization eligibility and reports $160M–$264M repricing swings","audioSeconds",846,"startMs",3017000,"endMs",3863000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2793761-98f5012968e596efb26d751c3463e97b&start=3017&end=3863","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2793761-98f5012968e596efb26d751c3463e97b/thumbnail_3017000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6621954/Minnesota/DHS-revises-pharmacy-carve-out-timetable-updates-housing-stabilization-eligibility-and-reports-160M264M-repricing-swings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6621954-11581b0232e6065e3ad3eb83c24dce9f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775904993&Signature=KHrvR4fArWGDgvlKiqYkJhso6zT3ogya2R7D6vsxIB76G6Zq7CObVoRn79lzBnrIYBf~6q5wZ4JD9cU37zVYU7MwHurxqtjP1fy5kQ9H9lyXCMhYyrNxKsI7sF8ei~9GVWoW3Rm5rGmNr4yZ7NSje1HYVjnTV-ENm9t8OriUOKxxfc7HTwX9RW3qr2aQd5tXrN1Gv4v-f3zPhUT2zTumY0e7LoxEG5YZaD2VhJdVWFRiTxHsOP0CW-eQg4Y3DmIlIfCW3MxTt586ESJeQ7gCbAbVCha9VAmIz7jB9tQ2EPiKWKAKwBH0NQN-2sancGvGOS-NkJ3FJpkwMRmp6cttUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Minnesota Legislature","date","2025-03-27T15:42:48.577Z","article","The Department of Human Services told the Senate Health and Human Services Committee that changes in timing and technical corrections altered projected savings in the governor’s revised budget.

Elise Bailey, DHS budget director, said the department postponed the effective date for the proposed pharmacy benefit carve-out — moving the start from Jan. 1, 2026 to July 1, 2026 — because more time is needed to establish the sole administrator model and account for payment timing between managed care organizations and fee-for-service administration. The timing change reduces savings in the near term and requires the state to “buy back” a withhold payment timing difference. Bailey also said DHS clarified that MinnesotaCare is not affected by the carve-out; the change applies to Medical Assistance only.

DHS reported the updated savings estimates for the carve-out as $3.7 million in FY 2026–27 and $15 million in FY 2028–29. The department also corrected an earlier omission: when it increased a surcharge on health maintenance organizations, the corresponding increase needed to be included in capitation payments to managed-care plans. Accounting for that raises managed-care payments and reduces net savings. DHS presented updated net savings figures of about $136 million in FY 2026–27 and roughly $128.5 million in FY 2028–29 after the repricing adjustments.

Bailey described a third change related to housing stabilization services. Federal guidance for 1915(i) state plan amendment services requires financial eligibility at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL). Minnesota statute, as written, tied eligibility to Medical Assistance enrollment, which creates a small discrepancy for pregnant people who may qualify for MA up to 278 percent of FPL. DHS said the amendment is budget neutral and clarifies state law to align with the federal rule.

Committee members asked detailed questions about the pharmacy carve-out timeline, the mechanics of managed-care withhold and buy-backs, and the housing-stabilization eligibility change. Bailey said revised administrative costs for the sole administrator are being updated and that timing changes explain why savings booked on spreadsheets differ from cash flows.

DHS said it had identified about six grants affected by the CDC cancellations referenced earlier in the hearing; two had been scheduled to expire soon and showed no net fiscal impact, while four that were expected to continue through Sept. 30, 2025 totaled about $24 million and included about 100 contracts with grantees for mental health and substance-use programs. Bailey said DHS is continuing to analyze the impacts and that a follow-up to the committee will be required.

Senators took no final action on DHS proposals; Senate File 2669 (MDH/DHS combined bill) will be laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus, and DHS staff agreed to return with more detailed fiscal accounting as requested.

Ending: DHS committed to follow-up on the fiscal implications of the CDC grant cancellations and to provide more detailed numbers on the managed-care payment adjustments and projected administrative costs associated with a pharmacy carve-out.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Committee on Health and Human Services - 03/27/25","oneSentenceSummary","The Department of Human Services told senators that it moved the effective date for the proposed pharmacy benefit carve-out to July 1, 2026, and updated savings estimates and technical fixes that materially change near-term budget projections.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MN, Minnesota","taxId",77817,"location","Minnesota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6621958,"MDH outlines revised budget cuts and warns of immediate harm after CDC cancels grants",2474,627000,3101000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2793761-98f5012968e596efb26d751c3463e97b&start=627&end=3101","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2793761-98f5012968e596efb26d751c3463e97b/thumbnail_627000.jpg","/articles/6621958/Minnesota/MDH-outlines-revised-budget-cuts-and-warns-of-immediate-harm-after-CDC-cancels-grants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6621958-ac85d5274813995f4f66f87848b29ad5/orig.mp4?Expires=1775904993&Signature=c1PWOITPULSI1nU2nBBK-wgiV~uHpdpUcdv79Pm46jgkWut6spyyXEHCU7R11EN5hFnHWdXZv7kMhdPLeBZ4-Pql6WRm2SCSQbO-g1j1bXaOn8-uvYano82N6yYhngCyst2A~EW9sYvRqIuqlQWuzImBRmsaCMneI9cmLjXAuY3se2MJK-z2WYg4zne12AeuJX4wTGiGyQQJ2zUBUjTnrd46DcOiyQIYncugdOUiCw9cFegPtg29YM~nRNMcqs6CkUUnKdgepiQYKiuR8xRHuAroghSoEMcpcLvpTsffC5aKzcRPESL2jMIUot4dc5U22-s7d-h~9QRtNRc7-s4bAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) told the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on March 1 that federal action cancelling multiple Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grants will force an immediate stop to funded activities and seriously disrupt public health services across the state. Wendy Underwood, MDH deputy commissioner, said the CDC notified MDH that all use of the affected funds must cease immediately and that MDH has 30 days to submit final invoices.

Underwood said the cancelled grants total about $226,000,000 and fund a wide range of local public health, tribal public health and community programs as well as nearly 200 MDH employees. “These grants currently total $226,000,000 and fund a wide range of local public health, tribal public health, and community based programs across Minnesota, as well as nearly 200 employees at MDH,” Underwood told the committee. She said the immediacy of the cancellations — rather than the fact that the grants would eventually end — is what is causing the harm.

MDH presented other revisions in the governor’s revised budget that would reduce or restructure existing programs. Among items Underwood described: a reduction of the annual Public Health Infrastructure Pilot Projects appropriation from $6,000,000 to $4,000,000, a roughly 5 percent cut to $8,400,000 emergency preparedness and response sustainability grants, and a $250,000 annual reduction beginning in FY 2026 to a $1,450,000 scholarship and loan-forgiveness program for HCBS direct-care workers. MDH also described modest reductions and timing changes to several cannabis-related education and prevention programs.

Committee members pressed MDH for detail about how much of the federal funding had already flowed to counties and other partners and what immediate service disruptions might look like. Underwood said grantees had 30 days to submit reimbursements for eligible expenses incurred through the date CDC specified (March 24), and that counties and tribal partners that depend on those reimbursements must now scramble to decide whether to continue programs, shift funds, or lay off staff. Bridal Wright, MDH legislative budget director, and other MDH staff joined Underwood for questions on fee increases and fee structure later in the hearing.

Senators reacted strongly. Sen. Carla Mann (D) described the cancellation as “systematic destruction of our public health infrastructure” and urged a rapid state response. Sen. Tom Abler (R) pressed for detail on how much of the federal funding flowed to counties; Underwood said $50,000,000 appears to remain unspent on grants but that MDH staff were still compiling totals. Underwood cautioned that final numbers and precise impacts were changing hourly as MDH and partners examined hundreds of grants and contracts.

MDH warned the committee that immediate layoffs would have additional costs to the state (payouts for leave, unemployment, insurance continuation) that had not been budgeted. Underwood said MDH had not yet issued formal layoff notices because staff were racing to distinguish positions fully funded by expired federal grants from positions funded by a blend of sources and to find ways to minimize harm.

The committee did not act on MDH’s budget bill at the hearing. Chair Senator Wicklund said Senate File 2669 would be laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill so members and staff could continue follow-up and ask for additional information from the department.

Staff and members asked MDH for more detailed follow-up: a full accounting of grant and contract amounts affected, the number of state and local employees funded in whole or part by the grants, specific services likely to be interrupted (for example, community vaccine clinics and poison control support), and whether alternative funding streams existed. MDH said it would update the committee as the situation evolved.

The MDH presentation also included more routine budget-change items in the governor’s revised proposal (reduced grants, fee changes and timing shifts), but senators focused much of their questioning on the federal grant cancellations and the human and operational consequences for county and tribal public health systems. Underwood repeatedly emphasized that the grants originally carried end dates and that MDH had been preparing for an orderly phase-down over months; the department said it could not execute a proper phased transition with the immediate stop order.

MdH asked the committee for patience as staff worked with grantees and partners to assess impacts. “We definitely plan to keep the chair and this committee apprised of these impacts as more information comes together,” Underwood said.

Ending: Committee members expressed anger and concern about the immediate federal action and asked MDH to provide a follow-up accounting of contract and grant exposures, staff impacts, and potential service gaps. Senate File 2669 was laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill pending those updates.","The Minnesota Department of Health told the Senate Health and Human Services Committee that immediate cancellations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will halt use of roughly $226 million in grants, disrupt nearly 200 MDH-funded positions and force urgent program reductions across the state.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6621949,"DCYF policy bill: EBT contract term, licensing updates and school-attendance prevention response proposed",1394,4532000,5926000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2793761-98f5012968e596efb26d751c3463e97b&start=4532&end=5926","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2793761-98f5012968e596efb26d751c3463e97b/thumbnail_4532000.jpg","/articles/6621949/Minnesota/DCYF-policy-bill-EBT-contract-term-licensing-updates-and-school-attendance-prevention-response-proposed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6621949-50aed955b4bd469fce47759dd54d783c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775904993&Signature=HT2CuCsawcFvFkwAqiQlM4J0GYRkNLCVkE2LENNM4BBUnjY0HBGqL0ABjNnDdL6kweTvOEnxKq7VMchFW1DXS9hI4~3BsAeEnbniMb4LLgOS8Km2oI4VaxnhTcMbsTcDf9X4GAMXqZV1mr1vkHyE7Mp3oq9RbaaIbuenm2sjIv5n~WyadH4kgE6Utfag-2D2SH0ypuGBleQiM1AUpCsSQe4S2GR9XBvim~NM3TM~xSlBClwnl3G3s~Zw9YDDN-la-3x30BLRbCHwK4pErRpjcX7927e4zMUsGk9YRl55lRx8kYrIWCR8v6Eytf8O9Iryr6X9xt0AvuUl9qbqFrGAiA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) presented its policy bill to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and described four principal changes: a procurement exception for the state's electronic benefits transfer (EBT) contract, technical updates to the licensing information lookup (LIL) system, a clarification on the administration of an early childhood literacy grant, and child-welfare statute changes focused on prevention and planning.

Nick Dem (DCYF) told the committee that the EBT system is a critical automated system that distributes more than $1 billion in benefits annually to roughly 225,000 households. Because procuring EBT services is complex and can take two to three years, DCYF proposed allowing an initial five-year term with extensions up to 10 years total to avoid near-constant reprocurement cycles.

DCYF Chief Financial Officer (testifying for DCYF) described a $200,000 technical update to LIL — Minnesota’s licensing information lookup — to post pre-licensure inspections and items reviewed at visits, responding to a federal Office of Child Care site visit that found gaps in CCDF compliance. DCYF said the update will allow the state to comply with federal child-care requirements and make inspection information available to the public.

Early childhood literacy funding was clarified: the program’s appropriation remains with the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and administration will remain at MDE even though statutory recodification in 2024 had placed a reference in DCYF language. DCYF said the change makes clear the funding and administration of the $7.95 million per fiscal year program stays with MDE and Reading Corps.

On child-welfare policy, DCYF proposed allowing counties and tribes to offer a prevention response to educational neglect reports before launching a child protection response. The current statute requires a child protection response at seven unexcused absences; DCYF said prevention responses can provide supports that address underlying issues such as poverty and may reduce unnecessary investigations and disparities. DCYF also proposed aligning the out-of-home placement plan timeline with federal statute by requiring the plan within 60 days (while retaining a 30-day summary requirement) and adding a court report and review 90 days before a foster youth’s 18th birthday to support transition planning.

Senators raised questions about school-attendance language and possible unintended consequences. Senator Abler expressed concern that the threshold for action remains low and that anonymous reports could push more families into the child-protection system. DCYF said the change is intended to replace an automatic investigative trigger with an opportunity for a prevention-focused response and to reduce unnecessary entries into the child protection system. Senators asked DCYF to work further with stakeholders on clarifying thresholds and protections for families.

The committee recommended the bill be sent to Judiciary for further consideration. Senate File 2778 passed out of committee and was referred to Judiciary for subsequent review.

Ending: DCYF officials said they would follow up with technical clarifications and work with legislators and stakeholders on attendance/prevention language; the bill was recommended to pass and referred to the Judiciary Committee.","DCYF proposed policy changes to streamline EBT procurement, update licensing information disclosure, and shift school-attendance responses toward prevention rather than automatic child-protection investigations.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6621944,"Senate bills seek automated overdose mapping and naloxone reporting to fill data gaps; privacy concerns raised",686,6640000,7326000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2793761-98f5012968e596efb26d751c3463e97b&start=6640&end=7326","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2793761-98f5012968e596efb26d751c3463e97b/thumbnail_6640000.jpg","/articles/6621944/Minnesota/Senate-bills-seek-automated-overdose-mapping-and-naloxone-reporting-to-fill-data-gaps-privacy-concerns-raised","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6621944-8e9145454e982cfcd3c56b1c5bbf9d25/orig.mp4?Expires=1775904993&Signature=BtyEcQ4SBXlyc3MwHP8GWey6jKruy4mtUcUr4LfjGbxHM44lFQFCJjVpmIkTGFNaefYG3FyfOLTLtL9ApLkrtywMBtgnZB~mENluulM1XHbZEyXhbSRd0u4sZYD-fx9CWoCbmHug02HR80nICSpixBA9fFNL0sEB6aTZhQ8FmLTdMdfx9u91DLMkzS2UX5zGhvYlxcSQlzTumdmO6An2e6~LLIVRLBvwDSOoYX4ttfYWZ3wV4TSdyZvJnfCGEObATZLisdkKxBuy3u20RQxQBs5oQleBx7eF3H8YkcpcfJbyEU2BpKGJKMOShW6Zr6PZtHHZwrtRIdD9MqBKca84EQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Two related bills addressing opioid surveillance and naloxone distribution data were presented to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.

Senate File 2499 would permit de-identified EMS data to be shared automatically with the Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program (ODMAP), a tool used by nearly 300 Minnesota jurisdictions. Supporters said automation would reduce manual entry, speed alerts about local overdose spikes and allow more timely responses. Senator Mohamud (sponsor) noted the bill does not mandate reporting and that only essential, non-identifying information (location, time, suspected substances, naloxone use) would be shared with authorized users. Jeremy Drucker, director of the Office of Addiction and Recovery, and Dylan Ferguson from the Office of EMS testified in favor and described the bills as ways to improve targeted public-health responses as federal funding becomes constrained.

Senate File 2806 would require dispensers to report distribution of opioid over-dose reversal agents (naloxone) to the state’s Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP). The bill allows retention of de-identified naloxone dispense data to improve trend analysis and would restrict access to authorized users for public-health purposes. Supporters said the change fills a data gap on where naloxone is being distributed in the community and would enable better planning and resource allocation.

Civil-liberty and privacy groups testified in opposition to the naloxone reporting bill. Matt Flanders of Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom opposed expanding the PMP and warned of “mission creep,” arguing that adding naloxone and other non-controlled “reportable substances” to the PMP could chill people from obtaining life-saving medication. He also opposed longer PMP data retention and urged the committee to scrutinize access controls and long-term retention policies.

Committee members asked whether the PMP change would expose individuals inappropriately and whether maintenance and contractor personnel could gain access to sensitive records. Supporters said the naloxone data would be used in aggregate, internal analysis and that the bills included restrictions on access. Senators asked for additional safeguards; several members said the bills warranted further review in judiciary or another policy forum to examine privacy and data-sharing safeguards.

Both bills were laid over for further consideration. Senate File 2499 was recommended to the Judiciary Committee; Senate File 2806 was held over for possible inclusion pending further work.","Two bills would automate EMS data sharing with an overdose mapping tool and add naloxone dispensation data to the state prescription monitoring program; supporters say better data will target response and save lives, while privacy advocates warned of mission creep and unintended consequences","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

DHS revises pharmacy carve-out timetable, updates housing-stabilization eligibility and reports $160M–$264M repricing swings

MDH outlines revised budget cuts and warns of immediate harm after CDC cancels grants

DCYF policy bill: EBT contract term, licensing updates and school-attendance prevention response proposed

Senate bills seek automated overdose mapping and naloxone reporting to fill data gaps; privacy concerns raised