1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to health; establishing a minimum definition 
  1.3             of durable medical equipment; requiring disclosure of 
  1.4             covered medical equipment and supplies; proposing 
  1.5             coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 62Q. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  [62Q.66] [DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT COVERAGE.] 
  1.8      No health plan company that covers durable medical 
  1.9   equipment may utilize medical coverage criteria for durable 
  1.10  medical equipment that limits coverage solely to equipment used 
  1.11  in the home. 
  1.12     Sec. 2.  [62Q.67] [DISCLOSURE OF COVERED DURABLE MEDICAL 
  1.13  EQUIPMENT.] 
  1.14     Subdivision 1.  [DISCLOSURE.] A health plan company that 
  1.15  covers durable medical equipment shall provide enrollees, and 
  1.16  upon request prospective enrollees, written disclosure that 
  1.17  includes the information set forth in subdivision 2.  The health 
  1.18  plan company may include the information in the member contract, 
  1.19  certificate of coverage, schedule of payments, member handbook, 
  1.20  or other written enrollee communication. 
  1.21     Subd. 2.  [INFORMATION TO BE DISCLOSED.] A health plan 
  1.22  company that covers durable medical equipment shall disclose the 
  1.23  following information: 
  1.24     (a) general descriptions of the coverage for durable 
  1.25  medical equipment, level of coverage available, and criteria and 
  2.1   procedures for any required prior authorizations; and 
  2.2      (b) the address and telephone number of a health plan 
  2.3   representative whom an enrollee may contact to obtain specific 
  2.4   information verbally, or upon request in writing, about prior 
  2.5   authorization including criteria used in making coverage 
  2.6   decisions and information on limitations or exclusions for 
  2.7   durable medical equipment. 
  2.8      Sec. 3.  [EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION.] 
  2.9      Sections 1 and 2 are effective January 1, 1999, and apply 
  2.10  to health plans issued, renewed, or continued as defined in 
  2.11  Minnesota Statutes, section 60A.02, subdivision 2a, to provide 
  2.12  coverage to a Minnesota resident on or after that date.