SF 410 establishes a grant program to encourage advance care planning discussions between individuals and their families, caregivers, and health care providers.

Section 1 permits section 145.99 to be cited as the “Let’s Talk Now Act”.

Section 2 (145.99) creates the advance care planning grant program.

Subdivision 1 defines advance care planning.

Subdivision 2, paragraph (a), requires the Commissioner of Health to award grants to nonprofit organizations and local public health boards to develop and implement comprehensive initiatives targeted to a designated community to encourage advance care planning discussions among individuals and their families, caregivers, and health care providers.

Paragraph (b) states that the purpose of the grants is to:  (1) increase social awareness of the need for advance care planning within a community; (2) encourage and assist individuals, families, caregivers and health care providers to begin having or continue to have advance care planning discussions based on informed choices and the needs and values of the individual; and (3) promote the availability and increase awareness of resources available.

Paragraph (c) requires the grant initiatives to be based on best practice, public health research principles, and on community input, needs and values; and to address health disparities and cultural differences that may exist in the community to be served.

Paragraph (d) requires the application to be submitted by September 1 of each year, beginning September 1, 2015, and specifies that it must describe the proposed initiative; identify the proposed outcomes and the evaluation process to be used; and identify the technical assistance and oversight needs that may be needed in developing possible strategies.

Paragraph (e) requires the commissioner to award the grants by October 1 of each year, beginning October 1, 2015.

Paragraph (f) requires each grant recipient to report to the commissioner on the progress of the initiative at least once during the grant period and submit a final report within two months of the end of the grant period that includes outcome results.

Subdivision 3 requires the commissioner to award a grant to a statewide advance care planning resource organization that has expertise in community-based advance care planning initiatives to provide assistance to potential grant applicants and assistance during the implementation of the initiatives.

Subdivision 4 requires the commissioner to submit a report to the legislature by February 15 of each year, beginning February 15, 2017, on the advance care planning grant program.

Subdivision 5 specifies that this section shall not be construed to condone, authorize, or approve mercy killing, euthanasia, or assisted suicide.

Section 3 appropriates money to the Commissioner of Health for the advance care planning grant program, and permits the commissioner to use a portion of the appropriation for the technical and oversight grant described in section 145.99, subdivision 3.