Minnesota House passes health and licensing bill that expands optometry scope and funds maternal-death study

The Minnesota House passed House File 2464, an act "relating to state government modifying certain health and licensing provisions," as amended, by a roll-call vote of 134 ayes and 0 nays. The bill, which included two adopted amendments, adjusts professional scope and licensing rules, directs additional study and data reporting, and adds bonding language to allow certain health care facilities to use revenue-backed financing.

The bill matters because it alters practice authority for a licensed health profession and directs state-supported study and data flows that lawmakers said will guide policy. Lawmakers also added language to make some health care facilities eligible for revenue bonds and included technical corrections suggested by Minnesota Management and Budget.

Representative Backer, the billauthor, described HF2464 as bipartisan and said it packages several health-related changes, including provisions on sensitive exams, maternal death studies aimed at understanding why minority mothers die in pregnancy and postpartum, trafficking data reporting…