HF 2916

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 02/11/2020 03:08pm

A bill for an act
relating to health; requiring hospitals to provide patients with information regarding
costs of transportation via an air ambulance service; amending Minnesota Statutes
2018, sections 62J.823, by adding a subdivision; 144E.121, by adding a subdivision.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 62J.823, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Air ambulance costs. new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of this subdivision, "emergency medical
condition" has the meaning given in United States Code, title 42, section 1395dd(e)(1).
new text end

new text begin (b) All hospitals must establish a protocol providing that, before a health care provider
arranges for transportation by air ambulance service of a hospital patient who does not have
an emergency medical condition, the hospital must provide the patient or the patient's
representative with a written notice that the patient:
new text end

new text begin (1) may have a choice of being transported by air ambulance or by medically appropriate
ground transportation;
new text end

new text begin (2) may be responsible for some or all of the charges for transportation via air ambulance;
and
new text end

new text begin (3) may request from the hospital the current rate schedule for the air ambulance service.
new text end

new text begin (c) Upon request by a patient or patient's representative, a hospital must provide the
patient or patient's representative with the current rate schedule for the air ambulance service
that the patient's health care provider proposes to use to transport the patient.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 144E.121, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Provision of rate schedule. new text end

new text begin An air ambulance service must, on an ongoing
basis, provide hospitals served by the air ambulance service and the board with the air
ambulance service's current rate schedule, including the highest base rate charged for a
patient transport and the highest mileage rate charged for a patient transport. The board
must compile the rate schedules provided by air ambulance services under this subdivision
and must make this information available to the public in a format that is accessible and
easy for members of the public to understand.
new text end