1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to health; regulating medical debt information;proposing coding for new 
1.3 	law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 325E.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. [325E.45] MINNESOTA MEDICAL PRIVACY PROTECTION ACT.
1.6 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the terms defined in this 
1.7 	subdivision have the meanings given them.
1.8 	(a) "Health care provider" has the meaning given in section 62J.03, subdivision 
1.9 	8, but does not include a "housing with services establishment," as defined in section 
1.10 	144D.01, subdivision 4, or an entity providing assisted living services, as described in 
1.11 	section 144G.01.
1.12 	(b) "Medical debt information" means any information relating to the payment 
1.13 	history or indebtedness of a patient regarding health care services, products, or devices 
1.14 	provided by a health care provider to a patient.
1.15 		Subd. 2.Prohibited conduct. A health care provider shall not disclose an individual 
1.16 	patient's financial or medical debt information to another entity.
1.17 	A health care provider shall not obtain or use information from any entity that 
1.18 	gathers, maintains, evaluates, or distributes individual patient financial or debt information 
1.19 	until after health care services, products, or devices have been provided by the health 
1.20 	care provider to the patient.
1.21 		Subd. 3.General exclusions. Nothing in this section prevents a health care 
1.22 	provider from sharing an individual patient's financial or medical debt information with 
1.23 	the patient; the patient's insurer; the patient's authorized third-party debt management 
1.24 	services provider as defined in section 332A.02; a third-party debt collector as defined in 
2.1 	section 332.31, that the health care provider has contracted to collect the patient's medical 
2.2 	debt; an attorney, accountant, or auditor employed by or acting on behalf of the health care 
2.3 	provider; or the state or federal government as required by law. Nothing in this section 
2.4 	prevents a health care provider from disclosing a court judgment obtained by the provider. 
2.5 	Nothing in this section prevents a health care provider from discussing payment options 
2.6 	or insurance coverage with a patient. This section only applies to medically necessary 
2.7 	health care services, products, or devices and not to cosmetic procedures without any 
2.8 	medical necessity.
2.9 		Subd. 4.Enforcement. This section may be enforced pursuant to section 8.31.

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