1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to health; requiring a study of the effectiveness of alternative medicine 
1.3 	approaches; appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. STUDY OF COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE HEALTH 
1.6 	CARE PRACTICES.
 1.7 	(a) The commissioner of health in cooperation with the University of Minnesota 
1.8 	medical research shall conduct a study of the effectiveness of alternative medicine 
1.9 	approaches to the treatment of diseases and chronic conditions, including, but not limited 
1.10 	to, the following:
1.11 	(1) anemia;
1.12 	(2) asthma;
1.13 	(3) cancers;
1.14 	(4) cardiovascular disease;
1.15 	(5) chronic fatigue;
1.16 	(6) Crohn's disease;
1.17 	(7) endocrine conditions;
1.18 	(8) fibromyalgia;
1.19 	(9) high blood pressure and high cholesterol;
1.20 	(10) hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism;
1.21 	(11) kidney and liver disorders; and
1.22 	(12) type 2 diabetes.
1.23 	(b) The commissioner in cooperation with the University of Minnesota medical 
1.24 	research shall review the medical records of persons who volunteer to participate in this 
2.1 	study to determine whether alternative medicine treatments resulted in improvement of 
2.2 	the patient's condition or conditions. Documents provided under this provision are private 
2.3 	data under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 13. The commissioner shall reimburse volunteers 
2.4 	for expenses incurred by participating in this study. In order to recruit volunteers to 
2.5 	participate in this study, the commissioner must inform health care providers of this study 
2.6 	and post information for potential volunteers on the agency's Web site.
2.7 	(c) The study must investigate whether, and under what specific circumstances, 
2.8 	alternative medicine approaches to treatment for the listed conditions are medically 
2.9 	effective. The study must include analysis and evaluation of whether alternative medicine 
2.10 	approaches are cost effective approaches to treatment of the listed conditions. For 
2.11 	purposes of this section, "alternative medicine approaches" means medical treatments that 
2.12 	are provided by licensed health care practitioners, but are not covered treatments under 
2.13 	most health insurance plans.
2.14 	(d) The commissioner shall continue this study through January 15, 2011, and shall 
2.15 	report to the legislature each year beginning January 15, 2010, as to the effectiveness 
2.16 	of alternative medicine approaches, and make recommendations as to whether these 
2.17 	treatments should be covered by health insurance plans.

2.18 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 2.19 	$....... is appropriated in fiscal year 2009 from the general fund to the commissioner 
2.20 	of health to conduct the study specified in section 1.