Legislative Session Starts; MMA to Focus on 5 Major Issues
February 19, 2026
State lawmakers returned to St. Paul on February 17 for the second half of the 2025-2026 biennium.
State Now Reimburses for Counseling Patients in Public Programs on Immunizations
February 3, 2022
As of January 1, Medical Assistance and other Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) are now reimbursing for time spent counseling patients on immunizations.
Physicians may counsel both in-person and via telehealth for COVID-19 vaccinations and standard vaccines. Physicians billing for vaccine counseling services must have the ability to administer the vaccine for which they are counseling. They cannot bill for vaccine counseling separately if the counseling is a required component of another service provided in the same visit.
This change comes after data showed that Minnesotans covered by Medicaid/MHCPs have had lower COVID-19 vaccination rates during the pandemic. Children, adults younger than 50, members who live outside the Twin Cities metro area and those who identify as Black or Native American have significantly lower vaccination rates.
Click here for the latest statewide COVID-19 vaccination rates for MHCP members. For more details on immunizations and vaccinations click here.
Latest News
MMA Leaders Testify on Medicaid Cuts
February 19, 2026
On the second day of the legislative session, MMA leadership was already advocating for one of its top priorities - minimizing the harm of federal changes to Medical Assistance (MA).
MMA Priority Bill on AI and Prior Auth Already Moving at the Capitol
February 19, 2026
Legislation to prohibit the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in prior authorization requirements was heard in the House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee on February 19.