Reimbursement rates for long-term ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring services provided by diagnostic testing facilities raised.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jeff Backer and 5 co-sponsors

Raises reimbursement rates for long-term ambulatory ECG monitoring by diagnostic testing facilities, affecting facilities, payers (including Medicaid), and patient access/costs.

Author added Perryman

#healthandhealthdepartment #humanservicesandhumanservicesdepartment

What this bill is

HF 1935 proposes raising the reimbursement rates for long-term ambulatory electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring services provided by diagnostic testing facilities. The bill is categorized under health and health services policy and would establish or modify the rate structure used to compensate facilities for these monitoring services.

Introduced: March 5, 2025

Initial session actions:

2025-03-05 — Introduction and first reading, referred to Health Finance and Policy
2025-03-13 — Authors added (Huot and Repinski)
2025-03-27 — Author added (Bahner)
2025-04-01 — Author added (Perryman)

Companion: SF 1497 (Senate companion)

What the bill would do (Key provisions)

Adjusts the reimbursement framework for long-term ambulatory ECG monitoring services provided by diagnostic testing facilities.

Sets, adjusts, or specifies the rate schedule or payment methodology used to reimburse these services. The exact mechanism (e.g., percentage of a benchmark, new rate schedules, or provider-specific adjustments) would be defined in the bill language.

Applies to services delivered by diagnostic testing facilities, with potential impact on the payer mix used by state programs and private payers if the state establishes preferred or standard rates.

Who is affected

Diagnostic testing facilities that provide long-term ambulatory ECG monitoring services.

Payers that reimburse these services (including state-funded programs such as Medicaid/ MinnesotaCare if applicable under the bill’s scope).

Potential indirect effects on patients via changes to service access or out-of-pocket costs, depending on how rate changes interact with payer policies.

Implementation and timeline

The bill would take effect according to its enacted text (the exact effective date is not specified in the summary and would be in the bill).

Administrative implementation would involve the agency responsible for health services payments (likely the Department of Human Services or other state payer agencies as defined in the bill).

Fiscal and policy considerations

A fiscal note would typically accompany HF 1935 to estimate the cost to the state and any potential savings or budgetary impact on health programs.

Increased reimbursement could impact facility operations, access to long-term ECG monitoring for patients, and overall cost trends for payer programs.

The bill’s specific definitions, scope, and any phase-in or caps would influence the magnitude of fiscal effects.

Next steps

If advanced, HF 1935 would proceed through committee hearings (likely Health Finance and Policy) where details on rate calculations, eligible services, and affected programs would be scrutinized.

The companion Senate bill, SF 1497, may move in parallel and inform debate and potential compromise.

For readers seeking precise financial figures, rate formulas, or effective dates, the bill’s full text and any accompanying fiscal note will provide the definitive details.

Bill