MINNEAPOLIS, January 15, 2008—The Health Economics Program of the Minnesota Department of Health wishes to remind physician clinics that April 1 is the deadline this year for reporting capital expenditures of $1 million or more.

All providers—hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, diagnostic imaging centers, physician clinics and other entities—are obliged to report to the Minnesota Department of Health on an annual basis as part of existing annual financial and statistical reports.

The 2007 Legislature made several changes to Minnesota Statutes, section 62J.17, which require hospitals, physician clinics, outpatient surgical centers, diagnostic imaging facilities and other providers to report on major capital expenditure commitments of $1 million or more.

One change requires providers to report major capital expenditures on an annual basis. The reporting deadline for physician clinics is April 1. The previous law required providers to report within 60 days after the date of the spending commitment. Other changes include amendments to the data that providers must report, the definition of specialty care, and a clarification of exceptions to the capital reporting requirements.

The Minnesota Department of Health has compiled a factsheet to help providers understand these changes. The factsheet is available online at health.state.mn.us/healtheconomics.

For additional information contact Tom Major in the department’s Health Economics Program at 651-201-3574 or tom.major@health.state.mn.us.