This is Anni’s lastest legislative report. Of greatest concern for us is the requirement to establish financial capacity for new agencies and those going through the revalidation process (in the House bill). We are heavily advocating for that to be minimized. There is also language to expand the requirement for Surety Bonds. MHCA’s position is that fraud prevention measures are important as long as they do NOT decrease access to care.

Kind Regards,

Kathy Messerli
Executive Director
Minnesota Home Care Association

2909 S. Wayzata Blvd. | Minneapolis, MN 55405
Direct: 651.635.0038 | Main: 651.635.0607
www.mnhomecare.org<http://www.mnhomecare.org/page/A17> | kmesserli@mnhomecare.org<mailto:kmesserli@mnhomecare.org>

From: advcomm@list.mnhomecare.org <advcomm@list.mnhomecare.org> On Behalf Of Simons, Anni
Sent: Friday, April 17, 2026 9:12 PM
To: advcomm@list.mnhomecare.org
Subject: MHCA: Fredrikson Legislative Update for Week Nine of Session

MHCA Advocacy Committee,

Legislative activity at the Minnesota Capitol remained active this past week as lawmakers worked toward the third committee deadline, which was today, April 17. This deadline required most finance bills to advance out of their respective committees in order to remain viable. With the arrival of this deadline, leadership has begun moving toward the next phase of the session. Both the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee have already begun scheduling hearings for next week to take up the various omnibus budget bills, and it is anticipated that the Senate will start to take up various omnibus policy bills on the floor next week.

As omnibus bills begin to take shape, caucus priorities are becoming clearer. At the same time, the divide between the House and Senate, as well as between the political parties, is becoming more pronounced. While legislators remain publicly committed to producing a work product before the May 18 constitutional adjournment deadline, significant questions remain about how much can realistically be accomplished this session.

Developments of interest to MHCA from this past week:

  *   The Home Care Nursing coverage legislation, which MHCA is strongly supporting, was included in the Senate Commerce Omnibus bill released earlier this week.
  *   MHCA’s Executive Director Kathy Messerli advocated this past week with the chairs of the House Human Services Committee to educate them on the inadvertent consequences of new surety bond and financial capacity requirements for MA providers included in the House Human Services Omnibus Finance bill. Other provider groups raised this concern as well, and you will see below that the language was improved significantly.
  *   Below are the details of some of the relevant omnibus finance bills. Please let us know if you have questions or feedback on the contents of the omnibus bills:

     *   Here is a link to the Senate Human Services Omnibus Finance Bill language<https://www.senate.mn/committees/2025-2026/3126_Committee_on_Human_Services/scs4476a-1.pdf>, summary<https://www.senate.mn/committees/2025-2026/3126_Committee_on_Human_Services/SF-4476-a1-HS-Budget-Bill-Index.pdf> and spreadsheet<https://www.senate.mn/committees/2025-2026/3126_Committee_on_Human_Services/2026-HS-Spreadsheet-Feb-26-Forecast-Human-Services-Supplemental-Omnibus-Bill-Human-Services-Chairs-Recommendations-415-150-PM.pdf>
        *   Amendment adopted onto the bill not yet reflected in the above bill language or summary:
           *   A2 amendment<https://assets.senate.mn/committees/2025-2026/3126_Committee_on_Human_Services/scs4476a-2.pdf>, Individualized Home Supports with Training, modifies the billing limit in the bill to be monthly instead of daily, and adds an exemption for those who need 24 hour care.
        *   Important note: The Senate Human Services Committee announced they are still working on their “program integrity” proposals, so we will likely see more proposals from that committee next week.

     *   Here is a link to the Senate Health Omnibus Finance Bill language<https://www.senate.mn/committees/2025-2026/3123_Committee_on_Health_and_Human_Services/scs4612a-2-1.pdf>, summary<https://www.senate.mn/committees/2025-2026/3123_Committee_on_Health_and_Human_Services/HHS-Omnibus-Budget-Bill-Index-A-2-Amendment.pdf> and spreadsheet<https://www.senate.mn/committees/2025-2026/3123_Committee_on_Health_and_Human_Services/Posting-Copy-4-14-26-2026-HHS-Supplemental-Budget-Tracking-SF-4612.pdf>

     *   Here is a link to the House Human Services Omnibus Finance Bill language<https://www.house.mn.gov/comm/docs/L_N36HwdWU_VhLGfsi74ZA.pdf>, summary<https://www.house.mn.gov/comm/docs/lvyqRJjt1kKaLmZBcYLPQQ.pdf> and spreadsheet<https://www.house.mn.gov/comm/docs/xyNyO5TxCUGRo_dzJdQ2yw.pdf>.
        *   Amendments adopted onto the bill not yet reflected in the above bill language or summary:
           *   HF4338 A2 <https://www.house.mn.gov/comm/docs/bxc1Bv1dH0u5C16GHOZqeQ.pdf> - Removes the language in the bill allowing DHS to designate additional services to be subject to EVV (does not remove the expansion of EVV to certain unit based services).
           *   HF4338 A4 <https://www.house.mn.gov/comm/docs/qOUmFQDXyE_z5dlGsfJ2aw.pdf> - Changes the I.H.S. limits to align with the ARRM proposal that moves to a monthly limit.
           *   HF4338 A6 <https://www.house.mn.gov/comm/docs/zn95fVpXdkOjXy0BcxO2NQ.pdf> - Remove the MA provider requirement for 90 days of payroll/operations/repaying improper payment and replaces with requirement for 30 days.
           *   HF4338 A7 <https://www.house.mn.gov/comm/docs/kS6AhV3ca0yOXBU1g2kkDQ.pdf> - Updated surety bond requirement language for MA providers.
           *   HF4338 A13 <https://www.house.mn.gov/comm/docs/FTTU55ErXU6c6Mi8HjURaA.pdf> - Adds exception language to the moratorium on enrollment of new high risk providers.

     *   Here is a link to the House Health Omnibus Finance Bill language<https://www.house.mn.gov/comm/docs/RwhKmm-ISUWmjUC0ylJvhg.pdf>, summary<https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/comm/docs/DMBfSgUfFUWS-Yu_a3fmxg.pdf> and spreadsheet<https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/comm/docs/XmOARP4cbEa6dS0Xx5VYUQ.pdf>.

Additionally, We tried to share a powerpoint attachment with you all in last week’s update regarding the current “MN Focused Review” being carried out by CMS.  Not everyone was able to open that DHS powerpoint, so we are attaching it again here.

Lastly, you can find status updates from this past week regarding legislation of interest here<https://pluralpolicy.com/app/tagged-bills/49232>. Please let us know if you have any feedback or questions about the referenced bills.

Anni Simons (she/her/hers)
Senior Government Relations Specialist
asimons@fredgov.com<mailto:simons@fredgov.com>

Fredrikson Government Relations, LLC  /  525 Park Street  /  Suite 350  /  St. Paul MN 55103-2111
main 612-492-7700<votel://+16124927000/>  direct 612-492-7516<votel://+16124927000/>   web fredgov.com<https://www.fredlaw.com/>
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