The Omnibus Health Care and Family Services Appropriations Bill (Chapter 203) provided over $144.6 million for the Minnesota Department of Health, including about $100.3 million from the General Fund, over $43.9 million from the state government special revenue (SGSR) fund, and $386,000 from the metropolitan landfill contingency action (MLCA) fund.

Health Systems and Special Population

The Legislature appropriated almost $96.8 million for this activity, including nearly $78.3 million from the General Fund and about $18.5 million from the fees and licensing revenue fund. The General Fund appropriation for community health services was almost $41.8 million, a $10 million increase from the previous level. The increase will be distributed as grants to local public health agencies to finance core public health functions.

The Legislature also appropriated almost $4.4 million from fees and licensing for community health services, compared with current spending of $981,000. The major increases included almost $2.9 million to update and automate the state vital statistics information system and $286,000 to establish a father's registry of persons who may be a child's father but are not married to the child's mother and have not established paternity in a court proceeding.

A General Fund appropriation of almost $35.9 million was provided for the family health activity, compared with current spending of about $23.8 million. Over $9.4 million was provided for a series of children's initiatives, including tobacco- free communities, healthy beginnings, ENABL (Education Now and Babies Later), fetal alcohol syndrome, WIC, and juvenile assessments.

Almost $2.3 million was provided to expand family planning services. The Legislature also appropriated $232,000 from fees and licensing for family health programs, including $128,000 to continue current spending and $104,000 to support followup activities with newborns who test positive for any of the five metabolic errors for which newborns must be screened.

The health policy and system compliance activity received $425,000 from the General Fund, compared with a current level of $275,000. This activity also received almost $4.3 million from fees, compared with current spending of almost $4.2 million.

Increases of $694,000 to implement the licensing system for alcohol and drug counselors and $337,000 for agency cost increases related to indirect costs and inflation were almost offset by $947,000 in technical reallocations. A number of reallocations were made within the department's budget which, when added together, offset each other and result in no net budget change.

The facility and provider compliance activity received $225,000 from the General Fund and over $9.6 million from fees and licensing. The current spending level included no General Fund appropriations and about $9.3 million from fees and licensing.

Health Protection

This activity received almost $41.5 million, including about $15.9 from the General Fund, about $25.2 million from fees and licensing, and $386,000 from the metropolitan landfill contingency action (MLCA) fund.

The environmental health activity General Fund appropriation was about $3.9 million, including base-level funding of about $3.6 million and $300,000 for improvements related to well water database enhancement and training of local health agency staff regarding well water quality data. This activity also received almost $22 million from fees and licensing, compared to current spending of about $20.4 million. New spending items included $223,000 to finance a joint government/industry partnership to promote quality assurance initiatives in food service; $809,000 for agency cost increases related to indirect costs and inflation; and $453,000 in agency technical reallocations. This activity also received $386,000 from MLCA, the same amount as the current spending level.

The disease prevention and control activity received over $9.9 million from the General Fund, compared with current-level spending of about $9.1 million. The $800,000 increase was comprised of $500,000 for HIV prevention grants, $200,000 for HIV education for pregnant women, and $100,000 to plan for and evaluate a syringe access initiative to prevent HIV transmission. This activity also received $284,000 from the fees and licensing fund, a small increase from the current spending level of $262,000.

The public health laboratory received about $2.1 million from the General Fund, an amount unchanged from the base spending level, and about $2.9 million from fees, compared with a base level of about $2.3 million. Fee-funded increases included $205,000 for the newborn metabolic disorder screening program to replace aging equipment, cover laboratory cost increases, and recover a FY 1997 deficit.

Management and support services received an appropriation of about $6.4 million, including about $6.1 million from the General Fund, and $316,000 from fees. The finance and administration activity received about $4.4 million from the General Fund, compared to about $4.7 million in base-level funding. The base was reduced by $316,000 through technical reallocations to SSGR, which showed an appropriation of $316,000 compared to zero base funding. The management support activity received about $1.7 million from the General Fund compared to base funding of about $1.3 million. The two budget increases were $186,000 in technical reallocations and $200,000 to plan for the expansion of information and statistical research on minority health in Minnesota.

Health-Related Regulatory Boards

Over $19.2 million was appropriated in Chapter 203 from the state government special revenue fees and licensing fund for the operations of the health-related regulatory boards. The boards are self-supporting, with all of their revenues raised through fees assessed against regulated individuals and entities.

Emergency Medical Services Board

The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Board received about $1.4 million from the General Fund in Chapter 203, compared to current spending of about $1.2 million, and about $3.3 million from the trunk highway fund, a continuation of the current spending level. Most of the General Fund increase was earmarked for the implementation of a comprehensive advanced life support program.

Council on Disability

The Council on Disability received about $1.2 million in Chapter 203. This is identical to the current spending level.

The Ombudsman for Mental Health and Mental Retardation

Chapter 203 provided about $2.7 million for the ombudsman, compared with current spending of $2.4 million. The most significant new initiative was the appropriation of $225,000 for a civil commitment training and resource center. The center will provide training, disseminate information, and offer legal consultation, primarily to persons with mental illness and their representatives.

Ombudsperson for Families

Chapter 203 provided $318,000 for the Ombudsperson for Families, an amount equivalent to the current spending level.

Back to main Appropriations page