1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to health; requiring coverage for, or provision of language interpreter 
1.3 	services for, health plan and medical assistance enrollees;amending Minnesota 
1.4 	Statutes 2004, section 256B.0625, subdivision 18a; proposing coding for new 
1.5 	law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 62Q.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. [62Q.40] LANGUAGE INTERPRETER SERVICES.
1.8 	A health plan must cover language interpreter services provided to a 
1.9 	non-English-speaking enrollee in order to facilitate the provision of health care services 
1.10 	by a provider or health care facility. For purposes of this section, "provider" has the same 
1.11 	meaning as provided under section 62J.03, subdivision 8; and "health plan" includes 
1.12 	coverage excluded under section 62A.011, subdivision 3, clauses (7), (9), and (10). 
1.13 	Language interpreter services may be provided in person or by telephone. A health plan 
1.14 	may provide language interpreter services directly to a non-English-speaking enrollee. 
1.15 	Where a provider or health care facility is required to provide or arrange for language 
1.16 	interpreter services for an enrollee, a health plan may require that interpreter services for 
1.17 	its enrollees be provided by interpreters approved and provided, by contract or otherwise, 
1.18 	by the health plan. Where a health plan does not have approved interpreters or provide 
1.19 	interpreter services for its enrollees, the health plan shall reimburse the party providing 
1.20 	interpretive services directly for the costs of language interpreter services provided 
1.21 	to the enrollee. Persons providing language interpreter services that are reimbursed by 
1.22 	a health plan must bill the health plan for such services and may not bill the provider 
1.23 	or health care facility providing or arranging for such services. Providers and health 
1.24 	care facilities that employ or contract with language interpreters may bill and shall be 
1.25 	reimbursed directly by health plan companies for such services. A health plan company 
2.1 	shall provide to enrollees, upon request, the policies and procedures for addressing the 
2.2 	needs of non-English-speaking enrollees.
2.3 	The commissioner of human services shall adopt the National Standards of Practice 
2.4 	for Interpreters in Health Care and establish a registry of spoken language interpreters that 
2.5 	lists interpreters meeting these standards. The registry will require verification that the 
2.6 	standards have been met through evidence of:
2.7 	(1) proficiency in English and another working language, both oral and written;
2.8 	(2) professional ethics;
2.9 	(3) basic interpreting competencies; and
2.10 	(4) knowledge of medical terminology. 
2.11 	The registry shall be established by September 1, 2007.

2.12 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment 
2.13 	and applies to plans issued or renewed to provide coverage to Minnesota residents on or 
2.14 	after that date.

2.15 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 256B.0625, subdivision 18a, is amended to 
2.16 	read:
2.17 		Subd. 18a.Access to medical services. (a) Medical assistance reimbursement for 
2.18 	meals for persons traveling to receive medical care may not exceed $5.50 for breakfast, 
2.19 	$6.50 for lunch, or $8 for dinner.
2.20 	(b) Medical assistance reimbursement for lodging for persons traveling to receive 
2.21 	medical care may not exceed $50 per day unless prior authorized by the local agency.
2.22 	(c) Medical assistance direct mileage reimbursement to the eligible person or the 
2.23 	eligible person's driver may not exceed 20 cents per mile.
2.24 	(d) Medical assistance covers oral language interpreter services when provided by 
2.25 	an enrolled health care provider during the course of providing a direct, person-to-person 
2.26 	covered health care service to an enrolled recipient that assists an enrollee with limited 
2.27 	English proficiency in obtaining covered health care services.

2.28 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.