HF 67

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 02/01/2017 09:56am

A bill for an act
relating to health insurance; providing premium relief; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin DEFINITIONS.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Scope. new text end

new text begin For purposes of sections 1 to 5, the following terms have the
meanings given.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Eligible individual. new text end

new text begin "Eligible individual" means a Minnesota resident who is
not receiving a premium tax credit under Code of Federal Regulations and is not receiving
public program coverage under Minnesota Statutes, section 256B.055, or 256L.04.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Gross premium. new text end

new text begin "Gross premium" means the amount billed for a health plan
purchased by an eligible individual prior to a state premium subsidy, as defined in subdivision
5, in a calendar year.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Net premium. new text end

new text begin "Net premium" means the gross premium less the subsidy
defined in subdivision 5.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Premium subsidy. new text end

new text begin "Premium subsidy":
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new text begin (1) is a payment made on behalf of eligible individuals for the promotion of general
welfare, and is not compensation for any services;
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new text begin (2) is equal to 25 percent of the monthly gross premium otherwise paid by or on behalf
of the eligible individual that covers the eligible individual and the eligible individual's
spouse and dependents; and
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new text begin (3) is excluded from any calculation used to determine eligibility within any of the
Department of Human Services programs.
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new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Health carrier. new text end

new text begin "Health carrier" has the meaning given in Minnesota Statutes,
section 62A.011, subdivision 2.
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new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Commissioner. new text end

new text begin "Commissioner" means the commissioner of management and
budget.
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new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Individual market. new text end

new text begin "Individual market" means the market for health insurance
coverage offered to individuals other than in connection with a group health plan, as defined
in Minnesota Statutes, section 62A.011, subdivision 5.
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Sec. 2. new text begin PAYMENT TO HEALTH CARRIERS ON BEHALF OF ELIGIBLE
INDIVIDUALS.
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new text begin Payments to health carriers are based upon the premium subsidy available to eligible
individuals in the individual market, regardless of the cost of coverage purchased. Health
carriers seeking reimbursement from the state must submit an invoice and supporting
information to the commissioner in a form prescribed by the commissioner in order to be
eligible for payment. Payments are made on behalf of eligible individuals effectuating
coverage for calendar year 2017 and for the months in that year that the net premium amount
has been received by the health carriers for that individual. Total state payments to health
carriers are to be made within the scope of the available appropriation in section 3.
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Sec. 3. new text begin FUNDING.
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new text begin $311,645,000 in fiscal year 2017 is appropriated to Minnesota Management and Budget
from the health care access fund for the purposes of making payments as defined in section
2. The commissioner shall prorate payments to the health carriers if necessary so as not to
exceed the appropriation available. The appropriation is onetime and is available through
June 30, 2018.
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Sec. 4. new text begin AUDIT.
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new text begin The Department of Commerce shall conduct audits of the health carriers' supporting
data, as prescribed by the commissioner, to determine whether payments align with criteria
established in sections 1 and 2. The Department of Human Services shall provide data as
necessary to the Department of Commerce to complete the audit. All data collected for that
purpose will be held as confidential and nonpublic. The commissioner shall withhold or
charge back payments to the health carriers to the extent they do not align with the criteria
established in sections 1 and 2, as determined by the Department of Commerce. $300,000
in fiscal year 2017 is appropriated from the health care access fund to the Department of
Commerce for purposes of this section, and to facilitate payments to health carriers. The
appropriation is available until expended.
new text end

Sec. 5. new text begin GROSS PREMIUM EXEMPTIONS.
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new text begin This gross premium is not exempt under Minnesota Statutes, section 297I.15, or 62V.05,
subdivision 2.
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Sec. 6. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
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new text begin Sections 1 to 5 are effective the day following final enactment.
new text end