HF 3701

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 03/17/2010 10:50am

A bill for an act
relating to ambulance services; requiring payment to providers of ambulance
services within a geographic area; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 144E.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [144E.08] CHARGES FOR SERVICES.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) As used in this section, the following terms have the
meanings given in this subdivision.
new text end

new text begin (b) A "nonurban primary service area" means a primary service area, the majority of
geographic area of which is located outside of the metropolitan area defined in section
473.121, subdivision 4, and outside of any city that has a population over 35,000.
new text end

new text begin (c) A "negotiated fee" is an amount of payment for ambulance services agreed to
between the ambulance service and the local unit of government prior to the end of the
calendar year during which the service was provided.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Authorization. new text end

new text begin If an ambulance service that has been designated to serve a
nonurban primary service area under section 144E.06 determines that it has a deficit as
determined under subdivision 4 for a calendar year, it may impose a fee for the service
on any local unit of government, the territory of which is located within the primary
service area, if that local unit of government has not paid a negotiated fee to the ambulance
service for services provided within the territory of the local unit of government during
that calendar year.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Imposition and payment of fees. new text end

new text begin An ambulance service may impose a fee
under this section only as provided under this subdivision. The ambulance service must
determine the existence and amount of the deficit, if any, by March 1 following the end
of the calendar year when the deficit occurred. It must allocate the amount of the deficit
among the local units of government within the primary service area that did not pay a
negotiated fee for services provided during the year when the deficit occurred, and bill
each of them for the amount due. The local units of government must pay the imposed fee
no later than 90 days after receipt of the bill.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Determinations by the board. new text end

new text begin The board must develop formulas to be
used to determine:
new text end

new text begin (1) the existence and amount of an annual deficit; and
new text end

new text begin (2) the amount of an imposed fee, provided that the fee must be based on the amount
of the annual deficit, allocated among the local units of government within the service area
that have not paid a negotiated fee for the deficit year, divided according to the relative
shares of population of each local unit of government.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for charges based on deficits
occurring in 2010 and thereafter.
new text end