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Chapter 256L

Section 256L.05

Recent History

256L.05 APPLICATION PROCEDURES.

Subdivision 1.Application assistance and information availability.

(a) Applications and application assistance must be made available at provider offices, local human services agencies, school districts, public and private elementary schools in which 25 percent or more of the students receive free or reduced price lunches, community health offices, Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program sites, Head Start program sites, public housing councils, crisis nurseries, child care centers, early childhood education and preschool program sites, legal aid offices, and libraries. These sites may accept applications and forward the forms to the commissioner or local county human services agencies that choose to participate as an enrollment site. Otherwise, applicants may apply directly to the commissioner or to participating local county human services agencies.

(b) Application assistance must be available for applicants choosing to file an online application.

Subd. 1a.Person authorized to apply on applicant's behalf.

Beginning January 1, 1999, a family member who is age 18 or over or who is an authorized representative, as defined in the medical assistance program, may apply on an applicant's behalf.

Subd. 1b.MinnesotaCare enrollment by county agencies.

Beginning September 1, 2006, county agencies shall enroll single adults and households with no children formerly enrolled in general assistance medical care in MinnesotaCare according to section 256D.03, subdivision 3. County agencies shall perform all duties necessary to administer the MinnesotaCare program ongoing for these enrollees, including the redetermination of MinnesotaCare eligibility at renewal.

Subd. 2.Commissioner's duties.

The commissioner or county agency shall use electronic verification as the primary method of income verification. If there is a discrepancy between reported income and electronically verified income, an individual may be required to submit additional verification. In addition, the commissioner shall perform random audits to verify reported income and eligibility. The commissioner may execute data sharing arrangements with the Department of Revenue and any other governmental agency in order to perform income verification related to eligibility and premium payment under the MinnesotaCare program.

Subd. 3.Effective date of coverage.

(a) The effective date of coverage is the first day of the month following the month in which eligibility is approved and the first premium payment has been received. As provided in section 256B.057, coverage for newborns is automatic from the date of birth and must be coordinated with other health coverage. The effective date of coverage for eligible newly adoptive children added to a family receiving covered health services is the month of placement. The effective date of coverage for other new members added to the family is the first day of the month following the month in which the change is reported. All eligibility criteria must be met by the family at the time the new family member is added. The income of the new family member is included with the family's gross income and the adjusted premium begins in the month the new family member is added.

(b) The initial premium must be received by the last working day of the month for coverage to begin the first day of the following month.

(c) Benefits are not available until the day following discharge if an enrollee is hospitalized on the first day of coverage.

(d) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, benefits under sections 256L.01 to 256L.18 are secondary to a plan of insurance or benefit program under which an eligible person may have coverage and the commissioner shall use cost avoidance techniques to ensure coordination of any other health coverage for eligible persons. The commissioner shall identify eligible persons who may have coverage or benefits under other plans of insurance or who become eligible for medical assistance.

(e) The effective date of coverage for single adults and households with no children formerly enrolled in general assistance medical care and enrolled in MinnesotaCare according to section 256D.03, subdivision 3, is the first day of the month following the last day of general assistance medical care coverage.

Subd. 3a.Renewal of eligibility.

(a) Beginning July 1, 2007, an enrollee's eligibility must be renewed every 12 months. The 12-month period begins in the month after the month the application is approved.

(b) Each new period of eligibility must take into account any changes in circumstances that impact eligibility and premium amount. An enrollee must provide all the information needed to redetermine eligibility by the first day of the month that ends the eligibility period. If there is no change in circumstances, the enrollee may renew eligibility at designated locations that include community clinics and health care providers' offices. The designated sites shall forward the renewal forms to the commissioner. The commissioner may establish criteria and timelines for sites to forward applications to the commissioner or county agencies. The premium for the new period of eligibility must be received as provided in section 256L.06 in order for eligibility to continue.

(c) For single adults and households with no children formerly enrolled in general assistance medical care and enrolled in MinnesotaCare according to section 256D.03, subdivision 3, the first period of eligibility begins the month the enrollee submitted the application or renewal for general assistance medical care.

(d) An enrollee who fails to submit renewal forms and related documentation necessary for verification of continued eligibility in a timely manner shall remain eligible for one additional month beyond the end of the current eligibility period before being disenrolled. The enrollee remains responsible for MinnesotaCare premiums for the additional month.

Subd. 3b.Reapplication.

Beginning January 1, 1999, families and individuals must reapply after a lapse in coverage of one calendar month or more and must meet all eligibility criteria.

Subd. 3c.Retroactive coverage.

Notwithstanding subdivision 3, the effective date of coverage shall be the first day of the month following termination from medical assistance or general assistance medical care for families and individuals who are eligible for MinnesotaCare and who submitted a written request for retroactive MinnesotaCare coverage with a completed application within 30 days of the mailing of notification of termination from medical assistance or general assistance medical care. The applicant must provide all required verifications within 30 days of the written request for verification. For retroactive coverage, premiums must be paid in full for any retroactive month, current month, and next month within 30 days of the premium billing.

Subd. 4.Application processing.

The commissioner of human services shall determine an applicant's eligibility for MinnesotaCare no more than 30 days from the date that the application is received by the Department of Human Services. Beginning January 1, 2000, this requirement also applies to local county human services agencies that determine eligibility for MinnesotaCare.

Subd. 5.Availability of private insurance.

The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioners of health and commerce, shall provide information regarding the availability of private health insurance coverage and the possibility of disenrollment under section 256L.07, subdivision 1, paragraphs (b) and (c), to all: (1) families enrolled in the MinnesotaCare program whose gross family income is equal to or more than 225 percent of the federal poverty guidelines; and (2) single adults and households without children enrolled in the MinnesotaCare program whose gross family income is equal to or more than 165 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. This information must be provided upon initial enrollment and annually thereafter. The commissioner shall also include information regarding the availability of private health insurance coverage in the notice of ineligibility provided to persons subject to disenrollment under section 256L.07, subdivision 1, paragraphs (b) and (c).

NOTE: The amendment to subdivision 3a, paragraph (b), by Laws 2005, First Special Session chapter 4, article 8, section 67, is effective August 1, 2007, or upon HealthMatch implementation, whichever is later. Laws 2005, First Special Session chapter 4, article 8, section 67, the effective date.

NOTE: The amendment to subdivision 3a by Laws 2007, chapter 147, article 5, section 27, is effective July 1, 2007, or upon federal approval, whichever is later. Laws 2007, chapter 147, article 5, section 27, the effective date.

NOTE: The amendment to subdivision 3a by Laws 2008, chapter 358, article 3, section 8, is effective January 1, 2009, or upon federal approval, whichever is later. The commissioner shall notify the revisor of statutes when federal approval is obtained. Laws 2008, chapter 358, article 3, section 8, the effective date.

NOTE: Subdivision 1c, as added by Laws 2009, chapter 79, article 5, section 60, and amended by Laws 2009, chapter 173, article 1, section 37, is effective July 1, 2009, or upon federal approval, whichever is later. Laws 2009, chapter 173, article 1, section 37, the effective date. The subdivision will read as follows:

"Subd. 1c.Open enrollment and streamlined application and enrollment process.

(a) The commissioner and local agencies working in partnership must develop a streamlined and efficient application and enrollment process for medical assistance and MinnesotaCare enrollees that meets the criteria specified in this subdivision.

(b) The commissioners of human services and education shall provide recommendations to the legislature by January 15, 2010, on the creation of an open enrollment process for medical assistance and MinnesotaCare that is coordinated with the public education system. The recommendations must:

(1) be developed in consultation with medical assistance and MinnesotaCare enrollees and representatives from organizations that advocate on behalf of children and families, low-income persons and minority populations, counties, school administrators and nurses, health plans, and health care providers;

(2) be based on enrollment and renewal procedures best practices;

(3) simplify the enrollment and renewal processes wherever possible; and

(4) establish a process:

(i) to disseminate information on medical assistance and MinnesotaCare to all children in the public education system, including prekindergarten programs; and

(ii) for the commissioner of human services to enroll children and other household members who are eligible.

The commissioner of human services in coordination with the commissioner of education shall implement an open enrollment process by August 1, 2010, to be effective beginning with the 2010-2011 school year.

(c) The commissioner and local agencies shall develop an online application process for medical assistance and MinnesotaCare.

(d) The commissioner shall develop an application for children that is easily understandable and does not exceed four pages in length.

(e) The commissioner of human services shall present to the legislature, by January 15, 2010, an implementation plan for the open enrollment period and online application process."

NOTE: The amendment to subdivision 3 by Laws 2009, chapter 79, article 5, section 61, is effective July 1, 2009, or upon federal approval, whichever is later. Laws 2009, chapter 79, article 5, section 61, the effective date. The subdivision will read as follows:

"Subd. 3.Effective date of coverage.

(a) The effective date of coverage is the first day of the month following the month in which eligibility is approved and the first premium payment has been received. As provided in section 256B.057, coverage for newborns is automatic from the date of birth and must be coordinated with other health coverage. The effective date of coverage for eligible newly adoptive children added to a family receiving covered health services is the month of placement. The effective date of coverage for other new members added to the family is the first day of the month following the month in which the change is reported. All eligibility criteria must be met by the family at the time the new family member is added. The income of the new family member is included with the family's gross income and the adjusted premium begins in the month the new family member is added.

(b) The initial premium must be received by the last working day of the month for coverage to begin the first day of the following month.

(c) Benefits are not available until the day following discharge if an enrollee is hospitalized on the first day of coverage.

(d) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, benefits under sections 256L.01 to 256L.18 are secondary to a plan of insurance or benefit program under which an eligible person may have coverage and the commissioner shall use cost avoidance techniques to ensure coordination of any other health coverage for eligible persons. The commissioner shall identify eligible persons who may have coverage or benefits under other plans of insurance or who become eligible for medical assistance.

(e) The effective date of coverage for single adults and households with no children formerly enrolled in general assistance medical care and enrolled in MinnesotaCare according to section 256D.03, subdivision 3, is the first day of the month following the last day of general assistance medical care coverage.

(f) The effective date of coverage for children eligible under section 256L.07, subdivision 8, is the first day of the month following the date of termination from foster care or release from a juvenile residential correctional facility."

NOTE: The amendment to subdivision 3a by Laws 2009, chapter 79, article 5, section 62, is effective July 1, 2009, or upon federal approval, whichever is later. Laws 2009, chapter 79, article 5, section 62, the effective date. The subdivision will read as follows:

"Subd. 3a.Renewal of eligibility.

(a) Beginning July 1, 2007, an enrollee's eligibility must be renewed every 12 months. The 12-month period begins in the month after the month the application is approved.

(b) Each new period of eligibility must take into account any changes in circumstances that impact eligibility and premium amount. An enrollee must provide all the information needed to redetermine eligibility by the first day of the month that ends the eligibility period. If there is no change in circumstances, the enrollee may renew eligibility at designated locations that include community clinics and health care providers' offices. The designated sites shall forward the renewal forms to the commissioner. The commissioner may establish criteria and timelines for sites to forward applications to the commissioner or county agencies. The premium for the new period of eligibility must be received as provided in section 256L.06 in order for eligibility to continue.

(c) For single adults and households with no children formerly enrolled in general assistance medical care and enrolled in MinnesotaCare according to section 256D.03, subdivision 3, the first period of eligibility begins the month the enrollee submitted the application or renewal for general assistance medical care.

(d) Notwithstanding paragraph (e), an enrollee who fails to submit renewal forms and related documentation necessary for verification of continued eligibility in a timely manner shall remain eligible for one additional month beyond the end of the current eligibility period before being disenrolled. The enrollee remains responsible for MinnesotaCare premiums for the additional month.

(e) Children in families with family income equal to or below 275 percent of federal poverty guidelines who fail to submit renewal forms and related documentation necessary for verification of continued eligibility in a timely manner shall remain eligible for the program. The commissioner shall use the means described in subdivision 2 or any other means available to verify family income. If the commissioner determines that there has been a change in income in which premium payment is required to remain enrolled, the commissioner shall notify the family of the premium payment, and that the children will be disenrolled if the premium payment is not received effective the first day of the calendar month following the calendar month for which the premium is due.

(f) For children enrolled in MinnesotaCare under section 256L.07, subdivision 8, the first period of renewal begins the month the enrollee turns 21 years of age."

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