A new bill from Sen. Jason Rarick (R-Pine City) would jumpstart the creation of a new type of extended daily care facility for technologically dependent minors or minors with complex medical conditions.

Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care Centers (PPECC) are effectively daycare centers for technologically dependent minors or minors with complex medical conditions. PPECCs allow qualifying children under age 7, with a doctor’s prescription, to receive their highly specialized care in a non-residential setting rather than an in-home setting. Qualifying conditions might include cerebral palsy, epilepsy, congenital heart issues, and more.

“Every kid deserves an opportunity to reach their full potential,” said Sen. Rarick. “PPECCs allow kids to socialize as other children do, maximize their confidence and independence, and live a higher quality of life.”

The proposal would allow individuals who are medically complex or technologically dependent to attend a PPECC for up to 12.5 hours per day, six days per week, with hours of operation during normal waking hours.

In order to qualify as medically complex or technologically dependent the following guidelines must be met:

• The child must require skilled assessment and intervention multiple times during a 24-hour period to maintain health and prevent deterioration of health status
• The child must have both predictable health needs and the potential for changes in condition that could lead to rapid deterioration or life-threatening episodes
• The child must require a 24-hour plan of care, including a backup plan to reasonably ensure health and safety in the community
• The child must be expected to require frequent or continuous care in a hospital without the provision of services in the child’s home or a community setting.

In 2017, the Minnesota Legislature and Gov. Dayton approved a framework for licensing PPECC’s in Minnesota. Sen. Rarick’s bill would set Medical Assistance reimbursement rates, based on the patient’s level of complexity, allowing the commissioner of Human Services to move forward in the licensing process.