This bill establishes the county-administered rural medical assistance program known as CARMA, which serves as an alternative to the existing prepaid medical assistance program (PMAP) for eligible individuals in rural counties. CARMA aims to integrate healthcare, public health, and social services to better address health-related social needs in these communities. Counties authorized to administer CARMA will be exempt from the usual procurement process, and the bill outlines the eligibility criteria, covered benefits and services, and payment mechanisms for the county entities involved.

Additionally, the bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.69, to include provisions regarding the termination of contracts with health plans and the establishment of a collaborative process for quality measures and data integration. It mandates the commissioner of human services to seek necessary federal waivers for CARMA's implementation and specifies that components of the program not requiring federal approval will have an effective date as per state law. The overall provisions of the bill are set to take effect on January 1, 2027, with an additional effective date for certain components following final enactment.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 256B.69