The bill establishes the County-Administered Rural Medical Assistance program (CARMA) to provide an alternative to the existing prepaid medical assistance program (PMAP) for eligible individuals in rural counties. It aims to integrate healthcare, public health, and social services while addressing health-related social needs and promoting accountability for health outcomes. Counties authorized to administer CARMA will be exempt from the usual procurement process, and the commissioner of human services is tasked with developing a procurement process for county-based purchasing plans interested in offering CARMA. Key amendments to Minnesota Statutes include eligibility criteria for enrollees, a requirement for counties to cover all mandated medical assistance benefits, and the inclusion of health-related social needs as covered services starting January 1, 2030.

Additionally, the bill mandates the commissioner of human services to seek necessary federal waivers for CARMA's implementation, with provisions that do not require federal approval taking effect as outlined in state law. The bill specifies two effective dates: one for the request for federal waivers, effective the day after final enactment, and another for the overall provisions of the bill, effective January 1, 2027.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 256B.69