Managing Healthcare Compliance in Minnesota

Minnesota, distinct from other states, carries a unique landscape of regulations and standards that govern its healthcare compliance. Navigating and managing compliance in Minnesota can certainly be a challenge for providers and facilities. Juggling top-notch patient services and the state’s compliance requirements is no easy task.

For Minnesota healthcare entities to manage compliance effectively, it’s essential to have a functional and effective system in place for tracking and understanding regulatory changes, as well as promptly making any required modifications to policies and procedures. This article provides a quick overview of important healthcare compliance standards you need to know, specific to the state of Minnesota.

Minnesota Healthcare Compliance Resources

Let’s start with the important state government agencies you’ll need to work with:

• The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is a state government agency dedicated to protecting, maintaining, and improving the health of all Minnesotans through various public health initiatives, regulatory activities, and community partnerships.
• The Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA) is a key organization representing hospitals and health systems across Minnesota, advocating for effective healthcare policy and offering resources to improve patient care and hospital operations.
• Minnesota’s Medical Assistance (MA) under the state’s Department of Human Services (DHS) is the state’s Medicaid program that provides health care coverage to low-income individuals and families, including children, pregnant women, seniors, and people with disabilities.
• The Minnesota Board of Medical Practice is a regulatory body responsible for licensing medical professionals and ensuring the ethical and competent practice of medicine within the state of Minnesota.
• The Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy regulates and licenses professionals in the fields of behavioral health and therapy, ensuring high standards of practice and protecting public health and safety.

These agencies help maintain the integrity and quality of healthcare services in Minnesota, protecting the public and promoting patient safety. The resources provided by these Minnesota state agencies are essential for promoting public health, ensuring access to healthcare, supporting healthcare professionals, and enhancing overall health outcomes for the residents of Minnesota.

Regulations Unique to Minnesota

To meet the standards of healthcare compliance in Minnesota, there are a few additional regulations. 

Adverse Health Events Reporting Required

The Minnesota Adverse Health Events Reporting regulation is a significant healthcare compliance mandate in the state, designed to enhance patient safety and quality healthcare. According to state regulation, hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) are required to report specific adverse events from a list of 29 possibilities. The list of adverse events include a broad range of incidents, such as performing surgery on the wrong body part, foreign objects left in a patient post-surgery, and unexpected deaths during procedures. This system not only aims to reduce the occurrence of such events but also fosters transparency and continuous improvement in healthcare practices across Minnesota​.

Medical Marijuana and Cannabis Regulations

In Minnesota, medical marijuana regulations specify that only Minnesota-licensed doctors of medicine, physician assistants, and advanced practice registered nurses with direct responsibility for treating a qualifying condition can certify patients for medical cannabis use. Qualified healthcare practitioners are required to enroll in the state’s Medical Cannabis Registry, which entails account creation and providing professional details such as medical and DEA license/verification numbers. Furthermore, providers must conduct a full physical examination of the patient, diagnose a qualifying condition, review the patient’s medical history, develop an ongoing treatment plan, and be able to commit to managing the patient’s condition on an ongoing basis.

Tips To Manage Healthcare Compliance in Minnesota

Effectively managing healthcare compliance in Minnesota is a critical responsibility for healthcare organizations, as it ensures the delivery of high-quality care while adhering to legal and regulatory requirements. Here are some key strategies to help healthcare organizations manage compliance effectively:

• Conduct State-Specific Training: Provide ongoing training and education to staff that is customized to your state’s regulations as well as your facility. If using a learning management system, ensure the vendor offers Minnesota-approved training.
• Organize Policies By Requirement: Including “MN” in every document that is required by the state will make it much easier for you to find these documents in an online system when a surveyor is onsite. It is also best practice to include the standard you are meeting for additional clarity.
• Establish a System for Monitoring Risk: Being able to identify compliance risks before they become incidents or violations can save the entire organization time and money. Identifying trends and consistently reviewing reports can signal issues, such as training not being completed or a large number of incidents in one location.
• Use Compliance Management Software: Accreditation surveyors say organizations that use compliance software are more prepared for onsite visits and surveys. The software helps to keep documents and policies organized, ensures training content is up to date, and makes reporting easy.

By implementing these strategies and fostering a culture of compliance within your healthcare organization, you can effectively manage healthcare compliance, reduce risks, and provide the best possible care to your patients while staying within legal boundaries.

Credentialing Compliance in Minnesota

The credentialing process in Minnesota has a streamlined option offered by the Minnesota Medical Association (MMA), a key player and founding member of the Minnesota Credentialing Collaborative (MCC). The MCC is an electronic credentialing application, specially designed to simplify the process with physicians entering their credentialing information just once. Then, their information is readily available to any health plan or hospital they select, without having to submit another application. While there is a $30.00 annual fee to use the database, this nuanced system in Minnesota undoubtedly enhances accuracy and reduces the need for repetitive submissions.

Meet Minnesota Compliance Requirements With MedTrainer 

While the path may be complex, healthcare providers who prioritize compliance will not only avoid legal troubles but also enhance the quality of care they provide to their patients in Minnesota. 

MedTrainer’s all-in-one compliance platform can streamline management of Minnesota healthcare compliance. MedTrainer seamlessly consolidates your organization’s policies, incident reports, safety plans, HR documents, contracts, and more. This centralized repository ensures all employees have easy access to essential information. The course library is curated to align with regulatory and accreditation requirements, and courses are regularly added and updated to ensure the most current information. Learn more about MedTrainer today!