This bill, S.F. No. 2418, proposes the establishment of a Provider Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) Program in Minnesota. Key components of the bill include:

1. Creation of a POLST Program: The bill mandates the commissioner of health to develop a statewide POLST system ensuring that end-of-life medical treatment preferences of patients are honored.

2. POLST Registry: A statewide database will be created to collect and store POLST forms, allowing authorized healthcare providers and emergency responders to access patients' treatment preferences. The registry must comply with state and federal health information privacy laws.

3. Authorized Users: Emergency responders, medical professionals, and healthcare providers in hospitals, clinics, assisted living facilities, skilled nursing facilities, home care, and hospice care will be allowed to access the registry.

4. Revocation & Removal: Patients or their legal representatives may revoke, remove, or opt-out of having their POLST form included in the registry.

5. POLST Registry Call Center: A 24/7 call center will be established to provide access to POLST forms for authorized users via telephone or radio.

6. Minnesota POLST Steering Committee: The Minnesota Medical Association will oversee education and training on POLST forms and provide policy advice to the commissioner of health.

7. Data Privacy & Legal Protections: The bill classifies POLST data as private or nonpublic and protects it from legal discovery or subpoenas. It also grants immunity to individuals who report or act on POLST information in good faith.

8. Implementation Deadline: The program must be fully implemented by January 1, 2026.

9. Funding Appropriations: The bill allocates $500,000 in fiscal year 2026 for the registry and call center, with ongoing funding of $400,000 per year. An additional $100,000 is allocated for education and training through the POLST Steering Committee.

This bill seeks to improve end-of-life care by ensuring that patients' medical treatment preferences are accessible and honored in emergency and clinical settings.