1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to health care; establishing a statewide health improvement program; 
1.3 	establishing health care homes and reporting requirements; establishing a care 
1.4 	coordination payment; requiring a workforce shortage study; establishing 
1.5 	requirements for interoperable health records; establishing electronic prescription 
1.6 	drug program; requiring recommendations for an essential benefit set for health 
1.7 	benefits; providing for health care payment restructuring; requiring uniform 
1.8 	standards; establishing a health care reform review council; establishing 
1.9 	Section 125 Plan; providing for fees; requiring reports; authorizing rulemaking; 
1.10 	appropriating money;amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections 256.01, 
1.11 	by adding a subdivision; 256L.06, subdivision 3; Minnesota Statutes 2007 
1.12 	Supplement, sections 43A.23, subdivision 1; 62J.495, by adding a subdivision; 
1.13 	256.962, subdivisions 5, 6; 256B.057, subdivision 2c, as amended; 256L.04, 
1.14 	subdivisions 1, 7; 256L.05, subdivision 3a; 256L.07, subdivision 1; 256L.15, 
1.15 	subdivision 2; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 62J; 
1.16 	124D; 145; 256B; proposing coding for new law as Minnesota Statutes, chapter 
1.17 	62U; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 256L.15, subdivision 3.
1.18 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.19 	ARTICLE 1
1.20 	PUBLIC HEALTH

1.21 	Section 1. [145.986] STATEWIDE HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
1.22 		Subdivision 1.Grants to local communities. (a) Beginning July 1, 2009, the 
1.23 	commissioner of health shall award competitive grants to community health boards 
1.24 	established pursuant to section 145A.09 and tribal governments to convene, coordinate, 
1.25 	and implement evidence-based strategies targeted at reducing the percentage of 
1.26 	Minnesotans who are obese or overweight and to reduce the use of tobacco.
1.27 	(b) Grantee activities shall:
1.28 	(1) be based on scientific evidence;
1.29 	(2) be based on community input;
2.1 	(3) address behavior change at the individual, community, and systems levels;
2.2 	(4) occur in community, school, worksite, and health care settings; and
2.3 	(5) be focused on policy, systems, and environmental changes that support healthy 
2.4 	behaviors.
2.5 	(c) To receive a grant under this section, community health boards and tribal 
2.6 	governments must submit proposals to the commissioner. A local match of ten percent 
2.7 	of the total funding allocation is required. This local match may include funds donated 
2.8 	by community partners.
2.9 	(d) In order to receive a grant, community health boards and tribal governments 
2.10 	must submit a health improvement plan to the commissioner of health for approval. The 
2.11 	commissioner may require the plan to identify a community leadership team, community 
2.12 	partners, and a community action plan that includes an assessment of area strengths and 
2.13 	needs, proposed action strategies, technical assistance needs, and a staffing plan.
2.14 	(e) The grant recipient must implement the health improvement plan, evaluate the 
2.15 	effectiveness of the interventions, and modify or discontinue interventions found to be 
2.16 	ineffective.
2.17 	(f) By January 15, 2011, the commissioner of health shall recommend whether any 
2.18 	funding should be distributed to community health boards and tribal governments based 
2.19 	on health disparities demonstrated in the populations served.
2.20 	(g) Grant recipients shall report their activities and their progress toward the 
2.21 	outcomes established under subdivision 2 to the commissioner in a format and at a time 
2.22 	specified by the commissioner.
2.23 	(h) All grant recipients shall be held accountable for making progress toward the 
2.24 	measurable outcomes established in subdivision 2. The commissioner shall require a 
2.25 	corrective action plan and may reduce the funding level of grant recipients that do not 
2.26 	make adequate progress toward the measurable outcomes.
2.27 		Subd. 2.Outcomes. (a) The commissioner shall set measurable outcomes to meet 
2.28 	the goals specified in subdivision 1, and annually review the progress of grant recipients 
2.29 	in meeting the outcomes.
2.30 	(b) The commissioner shall measure current public health status, using existing 
2.31 	measures and data collection systems when available, to determine baseline data against 
2.32 	which progress shall be monitored.
2.33 		Subd. 3.Technical assistance and oversight. The commissioner shall provide 
2.34 	content expertise, technical expertise, and training to grant recipients and advice on 
2.35 	evidence-based strategies, including those based on populations and types of communities 
2.36 	served. The commissioner shall ensure that the statewide health improvement program 
3.1 	meets the outcomes established under subdivision 2 by conducting a comprehensive 
3.2 	statewide evaluation and assisting grant recipients to modify or discontinue interventions 
3.3 	found to be ineffective.
3.4 		Subd. 4.Evaluation. Using the outcome measures established in subdivision 3, the 
3.5 	commissioner shall conduct a biennial evaluation of the statewide health improvement 
3.6 	program funded under this section. Grant recipients shall cooperate with the commissioner 
3.7 	in the evaluation and provide the commissioner with the information necessary to conduct 
3.8 	the evaluation.
3.9 		Subd. 5.Report. The commissioner shall submit a biennial report to the legislature 
3.10 	on the statewide health improvement program funded under this section. These reports 
3.11 	must include information on grant recipients, activities that were conducted using grant 
3.12 	funds, evaluation data, and outcome measures, if available. In addition, the commissioner 
3.13 	shall provide recommendations on future areas of focus for health improvement. These 
3.14 	reports are due by January 15 of every other year, beginning in 2010. In the report due 
3.15 	on January 15, 2010, the commissioner shall include recommendations on a sustainable 
3.16 	funding source for the statewide health improvement program other than the health care 
3.17 	access fund.
3.18 		Subd. 6.Supplantation of existing funds. Community health boards and tribal 
3.19 	governments must use funds received under this section to develop new programs, expand 
3.20 	current programs that work to reduce the percentage of Minnesotans who are obese or 
3.21 	overweight or who use tobacco, or replace discontinued state or federal funds previously 
3.22 	used to reduce the percentage of Minnesotans who are obese or overweight or who use 
3.23 	tobacco. Funds must not be used to supplant current state or local funding to community 
3.24 	health boards or tribal governments used to reduce the percentage of Minnesotans who are 
3.25 	obese or overweight or to reduce tobacco use.

3.26 	ARTICLE 2
3.27 	HEALTH CARE HOMES

3.28 	Section 1. [256B.0751] HEALTH CARE HOMES.
3.29 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For purposes of sections 256B.0751 to 256B.0753, 
3.30 	the following definitions apply.
3.31 	(b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of human services.
3.32 	(c) "Commissioners" means the commissioner of humans services and the 
3.33 	commissioner of health, acting jointly.
3.34 	(d) "Health plan company" has the meaning provided in section 62Q.01, subdivision 
3.35 	4.
4.1 	(e) "Personal clinician" means a physician licensed under chapter 147, a physician 
4.2 	assistant registered and practicing under chapter 147A, or an advanced practice nurse 
4.3 	licensed and registered to practice under chapter 148.
4.4 	(f) "State health care program" means the medical assistance, MinnesotaCare, and 
4.5 	general assistance medical care programs.
4.6 		Subd. 2.Development and implementation of standards. (a) By July 1, 2009, 
4.7 	the commissioners of health and human services shall develop and implement standards 
4.8 	of certification for health care homes for state health care programs. In developing these 
4.9 	standards, the commissioners shall consider existing standards developed by national 
4.10 	independent accrediting and medical home organizations. The standards developed by the 
4.11 	commissioners must meet the following criteria:
4.12 	(1) emphasize, enhance, and encourage the use of primary care, and include the 
4.13 	use of primary care physicians, advanced practice nurses, and physician assistants as 
4.14 	personal clinicians;
4.15 	(2) focus on delivering high-quality, efficient, and effective health care services;
4.16 	(3) encourage patient-centered care, including active participation by the patient and 
4.17 	family or a legal guardian, or a health care agent as defined in chapter 145C, as appropriate 
4.18 	in decision making and care plan development, and providing care that is appropriate to 
4.19 	the patient's race, ethnicity, and language;
4.20 	(4) provide patients with a consistent, ongoing contact with a personal clinician or 
4.21 	team of clinical professionals to ensure continuous and appropriate care for the patient's 
4.22 	condition;
4.23 	(5) ensure that health care homes develop and maintain appropriate comprehensive 
4.24 	care plans for their patients with complex or chronic conditions, including an assessment 
4.25 	of health risks and chronic conditions;
4.26 	(6) enable and encourage utilization of a range of qualified health care professionals, 
4.27 	including dedicated care coordinators, in a manner that enables providers to practice to 
4.28 	the fullest extent of their license;
4.29 	(7) focus initially on patients who have or are at risk of developing chronic health 
4.30 	conditions;
4.31 	(8) incorporate measures of quality, resource use, cost of care, and patient experience;
4.32 	(9) ensure the use of health information technology and systematic follow-up, 
4.33 	including the use of patient registries; and
4.34 	(10) encourage the use of scientifically based health care, patient decision-making 
4.35 	aids that provide patients with information about treatment options and their associated 
4.36 	benefits, risks, costs, and comparative outcomes, and other clinical decision support tools.
5.1 	(b) In developing these standards, the commissioners shall consult with national 
5.2 	and local organizations working on health care home models, physicians, relevant 
5.3 	state agencies, health plan companies, hospitals, other providers, patients, and patient 
5.4 	advocates. The commissioners may satisfy this requirement by continuing the provider 
5.5 	directed care coordination advisory committee.
5.6 	(c) For the purposes of developing and implementing these standards, the 
5.7 	commissioners may use the expedited rulemaking process under section 14.389.
5.8 		Subd. 3.Requirements for clinicians certified as health care homes. (a) A 
5.9 	personal clinician or a primary care clinic may be certified as a health care home. If a 
5.10 	primary care clinic is certified, all of the primary care clinic's clinicians must meet the 
5.11 	criteria of a health care home. In order to be certified as a health care home, a clinician or 
5.12 	clinic must meet the standards set by the commissioners in accordance with this section. 
5.13 	Certification as a health care home is voluntary. In order to maintain their status as health 
5.14 	care homes, clinicians or clinics must renew their certification annually.
5.15 	(b) Clinicians or clinics certified as health care homes must offer their health care 
5.16 	home services to all their patients with complex or chronic health conditions who are 
5.17 	interested in participation.
5.18 	(c) Health care homes must participate in the health care home collaborative 
5.19 	established under subdivision 5.
5.20 		Subd. 4.Alternative models. Nothing in this section shall preclude the continued 
5.21 	development of existing medical or health care home projects currently operating or under 
5.22 	development by the commissioner of human services or preclude the commissioner from 
5.23 	establishing alternative models and payment mechanisms for persons who are enrolled 
5.24 	in integrated Medicare and Medicaid programs under section 256B.69, subdivisions 23 
5.25 	and 28, are enrolled in managed care long-term care programs under section 256B.69, 
5.26 	subdivision 6b, are dually eligible for Medicare and medical assistance, are in the waiting 
5.27 	period for Medicare, or who have other primary coverage.
5.28 		Subd. 5.Health care home collaborative. By July 1, 2009, the commissioners 
5.29 	shall establish a health care home collaborative to provide an opportunity for health care 
5.30 	homes and state agencies to exchange information related to quality improvement and 
5.31 	best practices.
5.32 		Subd. 6.Evaluation and continued development. (a) For continued certification 
5.33 	under this section, health care homes must meet process, outcome, and quality standards as 
5.34 	developed and specified by the commissioners. The commissioners shall collect data from 
5.35 	health care homes necessary for monitoring compliance with certification standards and 
5.36 	for evaluating the impact of health care homes on health care quality, cost, and outcomes. 
6.1 	(b) The commissioners may contract with a private entity to perform an evaluation of 
6.2 	the effectiveness of health care homes. Data collected under this subdivision is classified 
6.3 	as nonpublic data under chapter 13.
6.4 		Subd. 7.Outreach. Beginning July 1, 2009, the commissioner shall encourage state 
6.5 	health care program enrollees who have a complex or chronic condition to select a primary 
6.6 	care clinic with clinicians who have been certified as health care homes.

6.7 	Sec. 2. [256B.0752] HEALTH CARE HOME REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
6.8 		Subdivision 1.Annual reports on implementation and administration. The 
6.9 	commissioners shall report annually to the legislature on the implementation and 
6.10 	administration of the health care home model for state health care program enrollees in the 
6.11 	fee-for-service, managed care, and county-based purchasing sectors beginning December 
6.12 	15, 2009, and each December 15 thereafter.
6.13 		Subd. 2.Evaluation reports. The commissioners shall provide to the legislature 
6.14 	comprehensive evaluations of the health care home model three years and five years after 
6.15 	implementation. The report must include: 
6.16 	(1) the number of state health care program enrollees in health care homes and the 
6.17 	number and characteristics of enrollees with complex or chronic conditions, identified 
6.18 	by income, race, ethnicity, and language;
6.19 	(2) the number and geographic distribution of health care home providers;
6.20 	(3) the performance and quality of care of health care homes;
6.21 	(4) measures of preventive care;
6.22 	(5) health care home payment arrangements, and costs related to implementation 
6.23 	and payment of care coordination fees;
6.24 	(6) the estimated impact of health care homes on health disparities; and
6.25 	(7) estimated savings from implementation of the health care home model for the 
6.26 	fee-for-service, managed care, and county-based purchasing sectors.

6.27 	Sec. 3. [256B.0753] PAYMENT RESTRUCTURING; CARE COORDINATION 
6.28 	PAYMENTS.
6.29 		Subdivision 1.Development. The commissioner of human services, in coordination 
6.30 	with the commissioner of health, shall develop a payment system that provides per-person 
6.31 	care coordination payments to health care homes certified under section 256B.0751 for 
6.32 	providing care coordination services and directly managing on-site or employing care 
6.33 	coordinators. The care coordination payments under this section are in addition to the 
6.34 	quality incentive payments in section 256B.0754, subdivision 1. The care coordination 
7.1 	payment system must vary the fees paid by thresholds of care complexity, with the 
7.2 	highest fees being paid for care provided to individuals requiring the most intensive care 
7.3 	coordination. In developing the criteria for care coordination payments, the commissioner 
7.4 	shall consider the feasibility of including the additional time and resources needed by 
7.5 	patients with limited English-language skills, cultural differences, or other barriers to 
7.6 	health care. The commissioner may determine a schedule for phasing in care coordination 
7.7 	fees such that the fees will be applied first to individuals who have, or are at risk of 
7.8 	developing, complex or chronic health conditions. Development of the payment system 
7.9 	must be completed by January 1, 2010.
7.10 		Subd. 2.Implementation.  The commissioner of human services shall implement 
7.11 	care coordination payments as specified under this section by July 1, 2010, or upon federal 
7.12 	approval, whichever is later. For enrollees served under the fee-for-service system, the 
7.13 	care coordination payment shall be determined by the commissioner in contracts with 
7.14 	certified health care homes. For enrollees served by managed care or county-based 
7.15 	purchasing plans, the commissioner's contracts with these plans shall require the payment 
7.16 	of care coordination fees to certified health care homes.
7.17 		Subd. 3.Cost neutrality. If initial savings from implementation of health care 
7.18 	homes are not sufficient to allow implementation of the care coordination fee in a 
7.19 	cost-neutral manner, the commissioner may make recommendations to the legislature on 
7.20 	reallocating costs within the health care system.

7.21 	Sec. 4. [256B.0754] PAYMENT REFORM.
7.22 		Subdivision 1.Quality incentive payments. By July 1, 2010, the commissioner of 
7.23 	human services shall implement quality incentive payments as established under section 
7.24 	62U.02 for all enrollees in state health care programs consistent with relevant state and 
7.25 	federal statute and rule. This section does not limit the ability of the commissioner 
7.26 	of human services to establish by contract and monitor, as part of its quality assurance 
7.27 	obligations for state health care programs, outcome and performance measures for 
7.28 	nonmedical services and health issues likely to occur in low-income populations or racial 
7.29 	or cultural groups disproportionately represented in state health care program enrollment 
7.30 	that would likely be underrepresented when using traditional measures that are based on 
7.31 	longer-term enrollment.
7.32 		Subd. 2.Payment reform. By January 1, 2011, the commissioner of human 
7.33 	services shall use the information and methods developed under section 62U.04 to 
7.34 	establish a payment system that:
7.35 	(1) rewards high-quality, low-cost providers;
8.1 	(2) creates enrollee incentives to receive care from high-quality, low-cost providers; 
8.2 	and
8.3 	(3) fosters collaboration among providers to reduce cost shifting from one part of 
8.4 	the health continuum to another.

8.5 	Sec. 5. WORKFORCE SHORTAGE STUDY.
 8.6 	To address health care workforce shortages, the commissioner of health, in 
8.7 	consultation with the health licensing boards and professional associations, shall study 
8.8 	changes necessary in health professional licensure and regulation to ensure full utilization 
8.9 	of advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants, and other licensed health care 
8.10 	professionals in the health care home and primary delivery system. The commissioner 
8.11 	shall make recommendations to the legislature by January 15, 2009.

8.12 	ARTICLE 3
8.13 	INCREASING ACCESS; CONTINUITY OF CARE

8.14 	Section 1. [124D.1115] FREE AND REDUCED SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM 
8.15 	DATA SHARING.
8.16 	(a) Each school participating in the federal school lunch program shall electronically 
8.17 	send to the Department of Education the eligibility information on each child who is 
8.18 	eligible for the free and reduced lunch program, unless the child's parent or legal guardian 
8.19 	after being notified of the potential disclosure of this information for the limited purpose 
8.20 	stated in paragraph (b) elects not to have the information disclosed.
8.21 	(b) Pursuant to United States Code, title 42, section 1758(b)(6)(A), the Department 
8.22 	of Education shall enter into an agreement with the Department of Human Services 
8.23 	to share the eligibility information provided by each school in paragraph (a) for the 
8.24 	limited purpose of identifying children who may be eligible for medical assistance or 
8.25 	MinnesotaCare. The Department of Human Services must ensure that this information 
8.26 	remains confidential and shall only be used for this purpose. Any unauthorized disclosure 
8.27 	shall be subject to a penalty.

8.28 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 256.01, is amended by adding a subdivision 
8.29 	to read:
8.30 		Subd. 27.Application and renewal forms.  The commissioner shall make state 
8.31 	health care program applications and renewals available on the department's Web site 
8.32 	in the most common foreign languages.

9.1 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 256.962, subdivision 5, is 
9.2 	amended to read:
9.3 		Subd. 5.Incentive program. Beginning January 1, 2008, the commissioner shall 
9.4 	establish an incentive program for organizations and licensed insurance producers under 
9.5 	chapter 60K that directly identify and assist potential enrollees in filling out and submitting 
9.6 	an application. For each applicant who is successfully enrolled in MinnesotaCare, 
9.7 	medical assistance, or general assistance medical care, the commissioner, within the 
9.8 	available appropriation, shall pay the organization or licensed insurance producer a $20
9.9 	$25 application assistance bonus. The organization or licensed insurance producer may 
9.10 	provide an applicant a gift certificate or other incentive upon enrollment.

9.11 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 256.962, subdivision 6, is 
9.12 	amended to read:
9.13 		Subd. 6.School districts. (a) At the beginning of each school year, a school district 
9.14 	shall provide information to each student on the availability of health care coverage 
9.15 	through the Minnesota health care programs.
9.16 	(b) For each child who is determined to be eligible for athe free orand reduced 
9.17 	pricedschool lunch program, the district shall provide the child's family with an 
9.18 	application for the Minnesota health care programs and information on how to obtain an 
9.19 	application for the Minnesota health care programs and application assistance.
9.20 	(c) A district shall also ensure that applications and information on application 
9.21 	assistance are available at early childhood education sites and public schools located 
9.22 	within the district's jurisdiction. 
9.23 	(d) Each district shall designate an enrollment specialist to provide application 
9.24 	assistance and follow-up services with families who are eligible for the reduced or free 
9.25 	lunch program or who have indicated an interest in receiving information or an application 
9.26 	for the Minnesota health care program. A district is eligible for the application assistance 
9.27 	bonus described in subdivision 5.
9.28 	(e) Each school district shall provide on their Web site a link to information on how 
9.29 	to obtain an application and application assistance.

9.30 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 256B.057, subdivision 2c, as 
9.31 	amended by Laws 2008, chapter 286, article 1, section 5, is amended to read:
9.32 		Subd. 2c. Extended coverage for Seamless coverage for MinnesotaCare eligible 
9.33 	children. A child receiving medical assistance under subdivision 2, who becomes 
9.34 	ineligible due to excess income, is eligible for two additional months ofseamless coverage 
10.1 	between medical assistance and MinnesotaCare. The child shall remain eligible under this 
10.2 	section for two additional months and is deemed automatically eligible for MinnesotaCare 
10.3 	until renewal. MinnesotaCare coverage begins in accordance with section 256L.05, 
10.4 	subdivision 3. Eligibility under this section is effective following any coverage available 
10.5 	under section 256B.0635. 
10.6 	A child eligible for extended coverage under this section is deemed automatically 
10.7 	eligible for MinnesotaCare until renewal. MinnesotaCare coverage begins in accordance 
10.8 	with section 256L.05, subdivision 3.

10.9 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 256L.04, subdivision 1, is 
10.10 	amended to read:
10.11 		Subdivision 1.Families with children. (a) Families with children with family 
10.12 	income equal to or less than 275 percent of the federal poverty guidelines for the 
10.13 	applicable family size shall be eligible for MinnesotaCare according to this section. All 
10.14 	other provisions of sections 256L.01 to 256L.18, including the insurance-related barriers 
10.15 	to enrollment under section 256L.07, shall apply unless otherwise specified. 
10.16 	(b) Parents who enroll in the MinnesotaCare program must also enroll their children, 
10.17 	if the children are eligible. Children may be enrolled separately without enrollment by 
10.18 	parents. However, if one parent in the household enrolls, both parents must enroll, unless 
10.19 	other insurance is available. If one child from a family is enrolled, all children must 
10.20 	be enrolled, unless other insurance is available. If one spouse in a household enrolls, 
10.21 	the other spouse in the household must also enroll, unless other insurance is available. 
10.22 	Families cannot choose to enroll only certain uninsured members.
10.23 	(c) Beginning October 1, 2003, the dependent sibling definition no longer applies 
10.24 	to the MinnesotaCare program. These persons are no longer counted in the parental 
10.25 	household and may apply as a separate household.
10.26 	(d) Beginning July 1, 2003, or upon federal approval, whichever is later, parents are 
10.27 	not eligible for MinnesotaCare if their gross income exceeds $50,000 $57,500.
10.28 	(e) Children formerly enrolled in medical assistance and automatically deemed 
10.29 	eligible for MinnesotaCare according to section 256B.057, subdivision 2c, are exempt 
10.30 	from the requirements of this section until renewal.

10.31 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2010, or upon federal 
10.32 	approval, whichever is later. The commissioner of human services shall notify the revisor 
10.33 	of statutes when federal approval is obtained.

11.1 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 256L.04, subdivision 7, is 
11.2 	amended to read:
11.3 		Subd. 7.Single adults and households with no children. (a) The definition of 
11.4 	eligible persons includes all individuals and households with no children who have gross 
11.5 	family incomes that are equal to or less than 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. 
11.6 	(b) Effective July 1, 2009, the definition of eligible persons includes all individuals 
11.7 	and households with no children who have gross family incomes that are equal to or less 
11.8 	than 215250 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.

11.9 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 256L.05, subdivision 3a, is 
11.10 	amended to read:
11.11 		Subd. 3a.Renewal of eligibility. (a) Beginning July 1, 2007, an enrollee's eligibility 
11.12 	must be renewed every 12 months. The 12-month period begins in the month after the 
11.13 	month the application is approved.
11.14 	(b) Each new period of eligibility must take into account any changes in 
11.15 	circumstances that impact eligibility and premium amount. An enrollee must provide all 
11.16 	the information needed to redetermine eligibility by the first day of the month that ends 
11.17 	the eligibility period. If there is no change in circumstances, the enrollee may renew 
11.18 	eligibility at designated locations that include community clinics and health care providers' 
11.19 	offices. The designated sites shall forward the renewal forms to the commissioner. The 
11.20 	commissioner may establish criteria and timelines for sites to forward applications to the 
11.21 	commissioner or county agencies. The premium for the new period of eligibility must be 
11.22 	received as provided in section 256L.06 in order for eligibility to continue.
11.23 	(c) For single adults and households with no children formerly enrolled in general 
11.24 	assistance medical care and enrolled in MinnesotaCare according to section 256D.03, 
11.25 	subdivision 3, the first period of eligibility begins the month the enrollee submitted the 
11.26 	application or renewal for general assistance medical care.
11.27 	(d) An enrollee who fails to submit renewal forms and related documentation 
11.28 	necessary for verification of continued eligibility in a timely manner shall remain eligible 
11.29 	for one additional month beyond the end of the current eligibility period before being 
11.30 	disenrolled. The enrollee remains responsible for MinnesotaCare premiums for the 
11.31 	additional month.

11.32 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2009, or upon federal 
11.33 	approval, whichever is later. The commissioner of human services shall notify the revisor 
11.34 	of statutes when federal approval is obtained.

12.1 	Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 256L.06, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
12.2 		Subd. 3.Commissioner's duties and payment. (a) Premiums are dedicated to the 
12.3 	commissioner for MinnesotaCare.
12.4 	(b) The commissioner shall develop and implement procedures to: (1) require 
12.5 	enrollees to report changes in income; (2) adjust sliding scale premium payments, based 
12.6 	upon both increases and decreases in enrollee income, at the time the change in income 
12.7 	is reported; and (3) disenroll enrollees from MinnesotaCare for failure to pay required 
12.8 	premiums. Failure to pay includes payment with a dishonored check, a returned automatic 
12.9 	bank withdrawal, or a refused credit card or debit card payment. The commissioner may 
12.10 	demand a guaranteed form of payment, including a cashier's check or a money order, as 
12.11 	the only means to replace a dishonored, returned, or refused payment.
12.12 	(c) Premiums are calculated on a calendar month basis and may be paid on a 
12.13 	monthly, quarterly, or semiannual basis, with the first payment due upon notice from the 
12.14 	commissioner of the premium amount required. The commissioner shall inform applicants 
12.15 	and enrollees of these premium payment options. Premium payment is required before 
12.16 	enrollment is complete and to maintain eligibility in MinnesotaCare. Premium payments 
12.17 	received before noon are credited the same day. Premium payments received after noon 
12.18 	are credited on the next working day.
12.19 	(d) Nonpayment of the premium will result in disenrollment from the plan effective 
12.20 	forthe first day of the calendar month following the calendar month for which the 
12.21 	premium was due. Persons disenrolled for nonpayment or who voluntarily terminate 
12.22 	coverage from the program may not reenroll until four calendar months have elapsed. 
12.23 	Persons disenrolled for nonpayment who pay all past due premiums as well as current 
12.24 	premiums due, including premiums due for the period of disenrollment, within 20 days 
12.25 	of disenrollment, shall be reenrolled retroactively to the first day of disenrollment The 
12.26 	commissioner shall waive premiums for coverage provided under this paragraph to 
12.27 	persons disenrolled for nonpayment who reapply under section 256L.05, subdivision 3b. 
12.28 	Persons disenrolled for nonpayment or who voluntarily terminate coverage from the 
12.29 	program may not reenroll for four calendar months unless the person demonstrates good 
12.30 	cause for nonpayment. Good cause does not exist if a person chooses to pay other family 
12.31 	expenses instead of the premium. The commissioner shall define good cause in rule.

12.32 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2009, or upon federal 
12.33 	approval, whichever is later. The commissioner of human services shall notify the revisor 
12.34 	of statutes when federal approval is obtained.

13.1 	Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 256L.07, subdivision 1, is 
13.2 	amended to read:
13.3 		Subdivision 1.General requirements. (a) Children enrolled in the original 
13.4 	children's health plan as of September 30, 1992, children who enrolled in the 
13.5 	MinnesotaCare program after September 30, 1992, pursuant to Laws 1992, chapter 549, 
13.6 	article 4, section 17, and children who have family gross incomes that are equal to or 
13.7 	less than 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines are eligible without meeting 
13.8 	the requirements of subdivision 2 and the four-month requirement in subdivision 3, as 
13.9 	long as they maintain continuous coverage in the MinnesotaCare program or medical 
13.10 	assistance. Children who apply for MinnesotaCare on or after the implementation date 
13.11 	of the employer-subsidized health coverage program as described in Laws 1998, chapter 
13.12 	407, article 5, section 45, who have family gross incomes that are equal to or less than 150 
13.13 	percent of the federal poverty guidelines, must meet the requirements of subdivision 2 to 
13.14 	be eligible for MinnesotaCare.
13.15 	Families enrolled in MinnesotaCare under section 256L.04, subdivision 1, whose 
13.16 	income increases above 275 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, are no longer 
13.17 	eligible for the program and shall be disenrolled by the commissioner. Beginning January 
13.18 	1, 2008, individuals enrolled in MinnesotaCare under section 256L.04, subdivision 7, 
13.19 	whose income increases above 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines or 215250 
13.20 	percent of the federal poverty guidelines on or after July 1, 2009, are no longer eligible for 
13.21 	the program and shall be disenrolled by the commissioner. For persons disenrolled under 
13.22 	this subdivision, MinnesotaCare coverage terminates the last day of the calendar month 
13.23 	following the month in which the commissioner determines that the income of a family or 
13.24 	individual exceeds program income limits.
13.25 	(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), children may remain enrolled in MinnesotaCare 
13.26 	if ten percent of their gross individual or gross family income as defined in section 
13.27 	256L.01, subdivision 4, is less than the annual premium for a policy with a $500 
13.28 	deductible available through the Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association. Children 
13.29 	who are no longer eligible for MinnesotaCare under this clause shall be given a 12-month 
13.30 	notice period from the date that ineligibility is determined before disenrollment. The 
13.31 	premium for children remaining eligible under this clause shall be the maximum premium 
13.32 	determined under section 256L.15, subdivision 2, paragraph (b).
13.33 	(c) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (b), parents are not eligible for 
13.34 	MinnesotaCare if gross household income exceeds $50,000$57,500 for the 12-month 
13.35 	period of eligibility.

14.1 	EFFECTIVE DATE. The effective date for the amendment to paragraph (a) is 
14.2 	July 1, 2009, or upon federal approval, whichever is later. The effective date for the 
14.3 	amendment to paragraph (c) is July 1, 2010, or upon federal approval, whichever is later. 
14.4 	The commissioner of human services shall notify the revisor of statutes when federal 
14.5 	approval is obtained.

14.6 	Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 256L.15, subdivision 2, is 
14.7 	amended to read:
14.8 		Subd. 2.Sliding fee scale; monthly gross individual or family income. (a) The 
14.9 	commissioner shall establish a sliding fee scale to determine the percentage of monthly 
14.10 	gross individual or family income that households at different income levels must pay to 
14.11 	obtain coverage through the MinnesotaCare program. The sliding fee scale must be based 
14.12 	on the enrollee's monthly gross individual or family income. The sliding fee scale must 
14.13 	contain separate tables based on enrollment of one, two, or three or more persons. Until 
14.14 	June 30, 2009, the sliding fee scale begins with a premium of 1.5 percent of monthly gross 
14.15 	individual or family income for individuals or families with incomes below the limits for 
14.16 	the medical assistance program for families and children in effect on January 1, 1999, and 
14.17 	proceeds through the following evenly spaced steps: 1.8, 2.3, 3.1, 3.8, 4.8, 5.9, 7.4, and 
14.18 	8.8 percent. These percentages are matched to evenly spaced income steps ranging from 
14.19 	the medical assistance income limit for families and children in effect on January 1, 1999, 
14.20 	to 275 percent of the federal poverty guidelines for the applicable family size, up to a 
14.21 	family size of five. The sliding fee scale for a family of five must be used for families of 
14.22 	more than five. The sliding fee scale and percentages are not subject to the provisions of 
14.23 	chapter 14. If a family or individual reports increased income after enrollment, premiums 
14.24 	shall be adjusted at the time the change in income is reported.
14.25 	(b) FamiliesChildren in families whose gross income is above 275 percent 
14.26 	of the federal poverty guidelines shall pay the maximum premium. The maximum 
14.27 	premium is defined as a base charge for one, two, or three or more enrollees so that if all 
14.28 	MinnesotaCare cases paid the maximum premium, the total revenue would equal the 
14.29 	total cost of MinnesotaCare medical coverage and administration. In this calculation, 
14.30 	administrative costs shall be assumed to equal ten percent of the total. The costs of 
14.31 	medical coverage for pregnant women and children under age two and the enrollees in 
14.32 	these groups shall be excluded from the total. The maximum premium for two enrollees 
14.33 	shall be twice the maximum premium for one, and the maximum premium for three or 
14.34 	more enrollees shall be three times the maximum premium for one.
15.1 	(c) Beginning July 1, 2009, MinnesotaCare enrollees shall pay premiums according 
15.2 	to the premium scale specified in paragraph (d) with the exception that children in families 
15.3 	with income at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines shall pay a monthly 
15.4 	premium of $4. For purposes of paragraph (d), "minimum" means a monthly premium 
15.5 	of $4.
15.6 	(d) The following premium scale is established for individuals and families with 
15.7 	gross family incomes of 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines or less:

15.8
15.9	Federal Poverty Guideline Range
	Percent of Average Gross Monthly 
Income
	
15.10	0-45%
	minimum
	
15.11	46-54%
	1.1%
	
15.12	55-81%
	1.6%
	
15.13	82-109%
	2.2%
	
15.14	110-136%
	2.9%
	
15.15	137-164%
	3.6%
	
15.16	165-191%
	4.6%
	
15.17	192-219%
	5.6%
	
15.18	220-248%
	6.5%
	
15.19	249-274%
	7.2%
	
15.20	275-300%
	8.0%

15.21 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2009, or upon federal 
15.22 	approval, whichever is later. The commissioner of human services shall notify the revisor 
15.23 	of statutes when federal approval is obtained.

15.24 	Sec. 12. AUTOMATION AND COORDINATION FOR STATE HEALTH CARE 
15.25 	PROGRAMS.
 15.26 	(a) For purposes of this subdivision, "state health care program" means the medical 
15.27 	assistance, MinnesotaCare, or general assistance medical care programs.
15.28 	(b) By January 15, 2009, the commissioner of human services shall report to the 
15.29 	legislature on ways to improve coordination between state health care programs and social 
15.30 	service programs, including, but not limited to, WIC and food stamps. This report must 
15.31 	include a review of options for the development of automated systems to identify persons 
15.32 	served by social service programs who may be eligible for, but are not enrolled in, a state 
15.33 	health care program. The report shall identify to the legislature statutory changes to state 
15.34 	health care and social service programs necessary to improve coordination and automation 
15.35 	between state health care programs and social service programs.

16.1 	Sec. 13. LONG-TERM CARE WORKER HEALTH COVERAGE STUDY.
 16.2 	(a) The commissioner of human services shall study and report to the legislature 
16.3 	by December 15, 2008, with recommendations for a rate increase to long-term care 
16.4 	employers dedicated to the purchase of employee health insurance in the private market. 
16.5 	The commissioner shall collect necessary actuarial data, employment data, current 
16.6 	coverage data, and other needed information.
16.7 	(b) The commissioner shall develop cost estimates for three levels of insurance 
16.8 	coverage for long-term care workers:
16.9 	(1) the coverage provided to state employees;
16.10 	(2) the coverage provided to MinnesotaCare enrollees; and
16.11 	(3) the benefits provided under an "average" private market insurance product, but 
16.12 	with a deductible limited to $100 per person.
16.13 	Premium cost sharing, waiting periods for eligibility, definitions of full- and 
16.14 	part-time employment, and other parameters under the three options must be identical to 
16.15 	those under the state employees health plan.
16.16 	(c) For purposes of this section, a long-term care worker is a person employed by a 
16.17 	nursing facility, an intermediate care facility for persons with developmental disabilities, 
16.18 	or a service provider that:
16.19 	(1) is eligible under Laws 2007, chapter 147, article 7, section 71; and 
16.20 	(2) provides long-term care services.
16.21 	The commissioner may recommend a different definition of long-term care worker if 
16.22 	this definition presents insurmountable implementation issues.
16.23 	(d) The recommendations must include measures to:
16.24 	(1) ensure equitable treatment between employers that currently have different levels 
16.25 	of expenditure for employee health insurance costs; and
16.26 	(2) enforce the requirement that the rate increase be expended for the intended 
16.27 	purpose.

16.28 	Sec. 14.  REPEALER.
 16.29 	Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 256L.15, subdivision 3, is repealed.

16.30 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2009, or upon federal 
16.31 	approval of the amendments to Minnesota Statutes, section 256L.15, subdivision 2, 
16.32 	paragraphs (c) and (d), whichever is later. The commissioner of human services shall 
16.33 	notify the revisor of statutes when federal approval is obtained.

17.1 	ARTICLE 4
17.2 	HEALTH INSURANCE PURCHASING AND AFFORDABILITY REFORM

17.3 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 43A.23, subdivision 1, 
17.4 	is amended to read:
17.5 		Subdivision 1.General. (a) The commissioner is authorized to request proposals 
17.6 	or to negotiate and to enter into contracts with parties which in the judgment of the 
17.7 	commissioner are best qualified to provide service to the benefit plans. Contracts entered 
17.8 	into are not subject to the requirements of sections 16C.16 to 16C.19. The commissioner 
17.9 	may negotiate premium rates and coverage. The commissioner shall consider the cost of 
17.10 	the plans, conversion options relating to the contracts, service capabilities, character, 
17.11 	financial position, and reputation of the carriers, and any other factors which the 
17.12 	commissioner deems appropriate. Each benefit contract must be for a uniform term of at 
17.13 	least one year, but may be made automatically renewable from term to term in the absence 
17.14 	of notice of termination by either party. A carrier licensed under chapter 62A is exempt 
17.15 	from the taxes imposed by chapter 297I on premiums paid to it by the state.
17.16 	(b) All self-insured hospital and medical service products must comply with coverage 
17.17 	mandates, data reporting, and consumer protection requirements applicable to the licensed 
17.18 	carrier administering the product, had the product been insured, including chapters 62J, 
17.19 	62M, and 62Q. Any self-insured products that limit coverage to a network of providers 
17.20 	or provide different levels of coverage between network and nonnetwork providers shall 
17.21 	comply with section 62D.123 and geographic access standards for health maintenance 
17.22 	organizations adopted by the commissioner of health in rule under chapter 62D.
17.23 	(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (b), a self-insured hospital and medical product 
17.24 	offered under sections 43A.22 to 43A.30 is not required to extend dependent coverage to 
17.25 	an eligible employee's unmarried child under the age of 25 to the full extent required under 
17.26 	chapters 62A and 62L. Dependent coverage must, at a minimum, extend to an eligible 
17.27 	employee's unmarried child who is under the age of 19 or an unmarried child under the 
17.28 	age of 25 who is a full-time student. The definition of "full-time student" for purposes 
17.29 	of this paragraph includes any student who by reason of illness, injury, or physical or 
17.30 	mental disability as documented by a physician is unable to carry what the educational 
17.31 	institution considers a full-time course load so long as the student's course load is at least 
17.32 	60 percent of what otherwise is considered by the institution to be a full-time course load. 
17.33 	Any notice regarding termination of coverage due to attainment of the limiting age must 
17.34 	include information about this definition of "full-time student."
18.1 	(d) Beginning January 1, 2010, the health insurance benefit plans offered in the 
18.2 	commissioner's plan under section 43A.18, subdivision 2, and the managerial plan under 
18.3 	section 43A.18, subdivision 3, must include an option for a health plan that is compatible 
18.4 	with the definition of a high-deductible health plan in section 223 of the United States 
18.5 	Internal Revenue Code.

18.6 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 62J.495, is amended by adding a 
18.7 	subdivision to read:
18.8 		Subd. 3.Interoperable electronic health record requirements. (a) To meet the 
18.9 	requirements of subdivision 1, hospitals and health care providers must meet the following 
18.10 	criteria when implementing an interoperable electronic health records system within their 
18.11 	hospital system or clinical practice setting.
18.12 	(b) The electronic health record must be certified by the Certification Commission 
18.13 	for Healthcare Information Technology, or its successor. This criterion only applies to 
18.14 	hospitals and health care providers whose practice setting is a practice setting covered 
18.15 	by Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology certifications. This 
18.16 	criterion shall be considered met if a hospital or health care provider is using an electronic 
18.17 	health records system that has been certified within the last three years, even if a more 
18.18 	current version of the system has been certified within the three-year period.
18.19 	(c) A health care provider who is a prescriber or dispenser of controlled substances 
18.20 	must have an electronic health record system that meets the requirements of section 
18.21 	62J.497.

18.22 	Sec. 3. [62J.497] ELECTRONIC PRESCRIPTION DRUG PROGRAM.
18.23 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms 
18.24 	have the meanings given.
18.25 	(a) "Dispense" or "dispensing" has the meaning given in section 151.01, subdivision 
18.26 	30. Dispensing does not include the direct administering of a controlled substance to a 
18.27 	patient by a licensed health care professional.
18.28 	(b) "Dispenser" means a person authorized by law to dispense a controlled substance, 
18.29 	pursuant to a valid prescription.
18.30 	(c) "Electronic media" has the meaning given under Code of Federal Regulations, 
18.31 	title 45, part 160.103.
18.32 	(d) "E-prescribing" means the transmission using electronic media of prescription 
18.33 	or prescription-related information between a prescriber, dispenser, pharmacy benefit 
18.34 	manager, or group purchaser, either directly or through an intermediary, including an 
19.1 	e-prescribing network. E-prescribing includes, but is not limited to, two-way transmissions 
19.2 	between the point of care and the dispenser.
19.3 	(e) "Electronic prescription drug program" means a program that provides for 
19.4 	e-prescribing.
19.5 	(f) "Group purchaser" has the meaning given in section 62J.03, subdivision 6.
19.6 	(g) "HL7 messages" means a standard approved by the standards development 
19.7 	organization known as Health Level Seven.
19.8 	(h) "National Provider Identifier" or "NPI" means the identifier described under 
19.9 	Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, part 162.406.
19.10 	(i) "NCPDP" means the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs, Inc.
19.11 	(j) "NCPDP Formulary and Benefits Standard" means the National Council for 
19.12 	Prescription Drug Programs Formulary and Benefits Standard, Implementation Guide, 
19.13 	Version 1, Release 0, October 2005.
19.14 	(k) "NCPDP SCRIPT Standard" means the National Council for Prescription Drug 
19.15 	Programs Prescriber/Pharmacist Interface SCRIPT Standard, Implementation Guide 
19.16 	Version 8, Release 1 (Version 8.1), October 2005.
19.17 	(l) "Pharmacy" has the meaning given in section 151.01, subdivision 2.
19.18 	(m) "Prescriber" means a licensed health care professional who is authorized to 
19.19 	prescribe a controlled substance under section 152.12, subdivision 1.
19.20 	(n) "Prescription-related information" means information regarding eligibility for 
19.21 	drug benefits, medication history, or related health or drug information.
19.22 	(o) "Provider" or "health care provider" has the meaning given in section 62J.03, 
19.23 	subdivision 8.
19.24 		Subd. 2.Requirements for electronic prescribing. (a) Effective January 1, 2011, 
19.25 	all providers, group purchasers, prescribers, and dispensers must establish and maintain 
19.26 	an electronic prescription drug program that complies with the applicable standards 
19.27 	in this section for transmitting, directly or through an intermediary, prescriptions and 
19.28 	prescription-related information using electronic media.
19.29 	(b) Nothing in this section requires providers, group purchasers, prescribers, or 
19.30 	dispensers to conduct the transactions described in this section. If transactions described in 
19.31 	this section are conducted, they must be done electronically using the standards described 
19.32 	in this section. Nothing in this section requires providers, group purchasers, prescribers, 
19.33 	or dispensers to electronically conduct transactions that are expressly prohibited by other 
19.34 	sections or federal law.
19.35 	(c) Providers, group purchasers, prescribers, and dispensers must use either HL7 
19.36 	messages or the NCPDP SCRIPT Standard to transmit prescriptions or prescription-related 
20.1 	information internally when the sender and the recipient are part of the same legal entity. If 
20.2 	an entity sends prescriptions outside the entity, it must use the NCPDP SCRIPT Standard 
20.3 	or other applicable standards required by this section. Any pharmacy within an entity 
20.4 	must be able to receive electronic prescription transmittals from outside the entity using 
20.5 	the adopted NCPDP SCRIPT Standard. This exemption does not supersede any Health 
20.6 	Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirement that may require the 
20.7 	use of a HIPAA transaction standard within an organization.
20.8 	(d) Entities transmitting prescriptions or prescription-related information where the 
20.9 	prescriber is required by law to issue a prescription for a patient to a nonprescribing 
20.10 	provider that in turn forwards the prescription to a dispenser are exempt from the 
20.11 	requirement to use the NCPDP SCRIPT Standard when transmitting prescriptions or 
20.12 	prescription-related information.
20.13 		Subd. 3.Standards for electronic prescribing. (a) Prescribers and dispensers 
20.14 	must use the NCPDP SCRIPT Standard for the communication of a prescription or 
20.15 	prescription-related information. The NCPDP SCRIPT Standard shall be used to conduct 
20.16 	the following transactions:
20.17 	(1) get message transaction;
20.18 	(2) status response transaction;
20.19 	(3) error response transaction;
20.20 	(4) new prescription transaction;
20.21 	(5) prescription change request transaction;
20.22 	(6) prescription change response transaction;
20.23 	(7) refill prescription request transaction;
20.24 	(8) refill prescription response transaction;
20.25 	(9) verification transaction;
20.26 	(10) password change transaction;
20.27 	(11) cancel prescription request transaction; and
20.28 	(12) cancel prescription response transaction.
20.29 	(b) Providers, group purchasers, prescribers, and dispensers must use the NCPDP 
20.30 	SCRIPT Standard for communicating and transmitting medication history information.
20.31 	(c) Providers, group purchasers, prescribers, and dispensers must use the NCPDP 
20.32 	Formulary and Benefits Standard for communicating and transmitting formulary and 
20.33 	benefit information.
20.34 	(d) Providers, group purchasers, prescribers, and dispensers must use the national 
20.35 	provider identifier to identify a health care provider in e-prescribing or prescription-related 
20.36 	transactions when a health care provider's identifier is required.
21.1 	(e) Providers, group purchasers, prescribers, and dispensers must communicate 
21.2 	eligibility information and conduct health care eligibility benefit inquiry and response 
21.3 	transactions according to the requirements of section 62J.536.

21.4 	Sec. 4. [62U.01] DEFINITIONS.
21.5 		Subdivision 1.Applicability. For purposes of this chapter, the terms defined in this 
21.6 	section have the meanings given, unless otherwise specified.
21.7 		Subd. 2.Basket or baskets of care. "Basket" or "baskets of care" means a 
21.8 	collection of health care services that are paid separately under a fee-for-service system, 
21.9 	but which are ordinarily combined by a provider in delivering a full diagnostic or 
21.10 	treatment procedure to a patient.
21.11 		Subd. 3.Clinically effective. "Clinically effective" means that the use of a 
21.12 	particular health technology or service improves or prevents a decline in patient clinical 
21.13 	status, as measured by medical condition, survival rates, and other variables, and that the 
21.14 	use of the particular technology or service demonstrates a clinical or outcome advantage 
21.15 	over alternative technologies or services. This definition shall not be used to exclude or 
21.16 	deny technology or treatment necessary to preserve life on the basis of an individual's age 
21.17 	or expected length of life or of the individual's present or predicted disability, degree 
21.18 	of medical dependency, or quality of life.
21.19 		Subd. 4.Commissioner. "Commissioner" means the commissioner of health unless 
21.20 	otherwise specified.
21.21 		Subd. 5.Cost-effective. "Cost-effective" means that the economic costs of using 
21.22 	a particular service, device, or health technology to achieve improvement or prevent 
21.23 	a decline in a patient's health outcome are justified given the comparison to both the 
21.24 	economic costs and the improvement or prevention of decline in patient health outcome 
21.25 	resulting from the use of an alternative service, device, or technology, or from not 
21.26 	providing the service, device, or technology. This definition shall not be used to exclude 
21.27 	or deny technology or treatment necessary to preserve life on the basis of an individual's 
21.28 	age or expected length of life or of the individual's present or predicted disability, degree 
21.29 	of medical dependency, or quality of life.
21.30 		Subd. 6.Group purchaser. "Group purchaser" has the meaning provided in 
21.31 	section 62J.03.
21.32 		Subd. 7.Health plan. "Health plan" means a health plan as defined in section 
21.33 	62A.011.
21.34 		Subd. 8.Health plan company. "Health plan company" has the meaning provided 
21.35 	in section 62Q.01, subdivision 4.
22.1 		Subd. 9.Participating provider. "Participating provider" means a provider who 
22.2 	has entered into a service agreement with a health plan company.
22.3 		Subd. 10.Provider or health care provider. "Provider" or "health care provider" 
22.4 	means a health care provider as defined in section 62J.03, subdivision 8.
22.5 		Subd. 11.Service agreement. "Service agreement" means an agreement, contract, 
22.6 	or other arrangement between a health plan company and a provider under which the 
22.7 	provider agrees that when health services are provided for an enrollee, the provider shall 
22.8 	not make a direct charge against the enrollee for those services or parts of services that 
22.9 	are covered by the enrollee's contract, but shall look to the health plan company for the 
22.10 	payment for covered services, to the extent they are covered.
22.11 		Subd. 12.State health care program. "State health care program" means the 
22.12 	medical assistance, MinnesotaCare, and general assistance medical care programs.
22.13 		Subd. 13.Third-party administrator. "Third-party administrator" means a 
22.14 	vendor of risk-management services or an entity administering a self-insurance or health 
22.15 	insurance plan under section 60A.23.

22.16 	Sec. 5. [62U.02] PAYMENT RESTRUCTURING; INCENTIVE PAYMENTS 
22.17 	BASED ON QUALITY OF CARE.
22.18 		Subdivision 1.Development. (a) The commissioner of health shall develop a 
22.19 	standardized set of measures by which to assess the quality of health care services offered 
22.20 	by health care providers, including health care providers certified as health care homes 
22.21 	under section 256B.0751. Quality measures must be based on medical evidence and be 
22.22 	developed through a process in which providers participate. The measures shall be used 
22.23 	for the quality incentive payment system developed in subdivision 2 and must:
22.24 	(1) include uniform definitions, measures, and forms for submission of data, to the 
22.25 	greatest extent possible;
22.26 	(2) seek to avoid increasing the administrative burden on health care providers;
22.27 	(3) be initially based on existing quality indicators for physician and hospital 
22.28 	services, which are measured and reported publicly by quality measurement organizations, 
22.29 	including, but not limited to, Minnesota Community Measurement and specialty societies;
22.30 	(4) place a priority on measures of health care outcomes, rather than process 
22.31 	measures, wherever possible; and
22.32 	(5) incorporate measures for primary care, including preventive services, coronary 
22.33 	artery and heart disease, diabetes, asthma, depression, and other measures as determined 
22.34 	by the commissioner.
22.35 	(b) The measures shall be reviewed at least annually by the commissioner.
23.1 		Subd. 2.Quality incentive payments. (a) By July 1, 2009, the commissioner 
23.2 	shall develop a system of quality incentive payments under which providers are eligible 
23.3 	for quality-based payments that are in addition to existing payment levels, based upon 
23.4 	a comparison of provider performance against specified targets, and improvement over 
23.5 	time. The targets must be based upon and consistent with the quality measures established 
23.6 	under subdivision 1. 
23.7 	(b) To the extent possible, the payment system must adjust for variations in patient 
23.8 	population, in order to reduce incentives to health care providers to avoid high-risk 
23.9 	patients or populations. 
23.10 	(c) The requirements of section 62Q.101 do not apply under this incentive payment 
23.11 	system.
23.12 		Subd. 3.Quality transparency. The commissioner shall establish standards for 
23.13 	measuring health outcomes, establish a system for risk adjusting quality measures, and 
23.14 	issue annual public reports on provider quality beginning July 1, 2010. By January 1, 
23.15 	2010, physician clinics and hospitals shall submit standardized electronic information 
23.16 	on the outcomes and processes associated with patient care to the commissioner or the 
23.17 	commissioner's designee. In addition to measures of care processes and outcomes, the 
23.18 	report may include other measures designated by the commissioner, including, but not 
23.19 	limited to, care infrastructure and patient satisfaction. The commissioner shall ensure 
23.20 	that any quality data reporting requirements established under this subdivision are not 
23.21 	duplicative of publicly reported, communitywide quality reporting activities currently 
23.22 	under way in Minnesota. Nothing in this subdivision is intended to replace or duplicate 
23.23 	current privately supported activities related to quality measurement and reporting in 
23.24 	Minnesota.
23.25 		Subd. 4.Contracting. The commissioner may contract with a private entity or 
23.26 	consortium of private entities to complete the tasks in subdivisions 1 to 3. The private 
23.27 	entity or consortium must be nonprofit and have governance that includes representatives 
23.28 	from the following stakeholder groups: health care providers, health plan companies, 
23.29 	consumers, employers or other health care purchasers, and state government. No one 
23.30 	stakeholder group shall have a majority of the votes on any issue or hold extraordinary 
23.31 	powers not granted to any other governance stakeholder. 
23.32 		Subd. 5.Implementation. (a) By January 1, 2010, health plan companies shall use 
23.33 	the standardized quality measures established under this section and shall not require 
23.34 	providers to use and report health plan company-specific quality and outcome measures. 
23.35 	(b) By July 1, 2010, the commissioner of finance shall implement this incentive 
23.36 	payment system for all participants in the state employee group insurance program.

24.1 	Sec. 6. [62U.03] PAYMENT RESTRUCTURING; CARE COORDINATION 
24.2 	PAYMENTS.
24.3 	(a) By January 1, 2010, health plan companies shall include health care homes in 
24.4 	their provider networks and by July 1, 2010, shall pay a care coordination fee for their 
24.5 	members who choose to enroll in health care homes certified by the commissioners 
24.6 	of health and human services under section 256B.0751. Health plan companies shall 
24.7 	develop payment conditions and terms for the care coordination fee for health care homes 
24.8 	participating in their network in a manner that is consistent with the system developed 
24.9 	under section 256B.0753. Nothing in this section shall restrict the ability of health plan 
24.10 	companies to selectively contract with health care providers, including health care homes. 
24.11 	Health plan companies may reduce or reallocate payments to other providers to ensure 
24.12 	that implementation of care coordination payments is cost neutral. 
24.13 	(b) By July 1, 2010, the commissioner of finance shall implement the care 
24.14 	coordination payments for participants in the state employee group insurance program. 
24.15 	The commissioner of finance may reallocate payments within the health care system in 
24.16 	order to ensure that the implementation of this section is cost neutral.

24.17 	Sec. 7. [62U.04] PAYMENT REFORM TO REDUCE HEALTH CARE COSTS 
24.18 	AND IMPROVE QUALITY.
24.19 		Subdivision 1.Development of tools to improve costs and quality outcomes.
 24.20 	The commissioner of health shall develop a plan to create transparent prices, encourage 
24.21 	greater provider innovation and collaboration across points on the health continuum 
24.22 	in cost-effective, high-quality care delivery, reduce the administrative burden on 
24.23 	providers and health plans associated with submitting and processing claims, and provide 
24.24 	comparative information to consumers on variation in health care cost and quality across 
24.25 	providers. The development must be complete by January 1, 2010.
24.26 		Subd. 2.Calculation of health care costs and quality. The commissioner of health 
24.27 	shall develop a uniform method of calculating providers' relative cost of care, defined as a 
24.28 	measure of health care spending including resource use and unit prices, and relative quality 
24.29 	of care. In developing this method, the commissioner must address the following issues:
24.30 	(1) provider attribution of costs and quality;
24.31 	(2) appropriate adjustment for outlier or catastrophic cases;
24.32 	(3) appropriate risk adjustment to reflect differences in the demographics and health 
24.33 	status across provider patient populations, using generally accepted and transparent risk 
24.34 	adjustment methodologies;
24.35 	(4) specific types of providers that should be included in the calculation;
25.1 	(5) specific types of services that should be included in the calculation;
25.2 	(6) appropriate adjustment for variation in payment rates;
25.3 	(7) the appropriate provider level for analysis;
25.4 	(8) payer mix adjustments, including variation across providers in the percentage of 
25.5 	revenue received from government programs; and
25.6 	(9) other factors that the commissioner determines are needed to ensure validity 
25.7 	and comparability of the analysis.
25.8 		Subd. 3.Provider peer grouping. (a) The commissioner shall develop a peer 
25.9 	grouping system for providers based on a combined measure that incorporates both 
25.10 	provider risk-adjusted cost of care and quality of care, and for specific conditions as 
25.11 	determined by the commissioner. In developing this system, the commissioner shall 
25.12 	consult and coordinate with health care providers, health plan companies, state agencies, 
25.13 	and organizations that work to improve health care quality in Minnesota. For purposes of 
25.14 	the final establishment of the peer grouping system, the commissioner shall not contract 
25.15 	with any private entity, organization, or consortium of entities that has or will have a direct 
25.16 	financial interest in the outcome of the system.
25.17 	(b) Beginning June 1, 2010, the commissioner shall disseminate information to 
25.18 	providers on their cost of care, resource use, quality of care, and the results of the grouping 
25.19 	developed under this subdivision in comparison to an appropriate peer group. Any 
25.20 	analyses or reports that identify providers may only be published after the provider has 
25.21 	been provided the opportunity by the commissioner to review the underlying data and 
25.22 	submit comments. The provider shall have 21 days to review the data for accuracy. 
25.23 	(c) The commissioner shall establish an appeals process to resolve disputes from 
25.24 	providers regarding the accuracy of the data used to develop analyses or reports.
25.25 	(d) Beginning September 1, 2010, the commissioner shall, no less than annually, 
25.26 	publish information on providers' cost, quality, and the results of the peer grouping 
25.27 	process. The results that are published must be on a risk-adjusted basis. 
25.28 		Subd. 4.Encounter data. (a) Beginning July 1, 2009, and every six months 
25.29 	thereafter, all health plan companies and third-party administrators shall submit encounter 
25.30 	data to a private entity designated by the commissioner of health. The data shall be 
25.31 	submitted in a form and manner specified by the commissioner subject to the following 
25.32 	requirements:
25.33 	(1) the data must be de-identified data as described under the Code of Federal 
25.34 	Regulations, title 45, section 164.514;
25.35 	(2) the data for each encounter must include an identifier for the patient's health care 
25.36 	home if the patient has selected a health care home; and
26.1 	(3) except for the identifier described in clause (2), the data must not include 
26.2 	information that is not included in a health care claim or equivalent encounter information 
26.3 	transaction that is required under section 62J.536.
26.4 	(b) The commissioner or the commissioner's designee shall only use the data 
26.5 	submitted under paragraph (a) for the purpose of carrying out its responsibilities in this 
26.6 	section, and must maintain the data that it receives according to the provisions of this 
26.7 	section.
26.8 	(c) Data on providers collected under this subdivision are private data on individuals 
26.9 	or nonpublic data, as defined in section 13.02. Notwithstanding the definition of summary 
26.10 	data in section 13.02, subdivision 19, summary data prepared under this subdivision 
26.11 	may be derived from nonpublic data. The commissioner or the commissioner's designee 
26.12 	shall establish procedures and safeguards to protect the integrity and confidentiality of 
26.13 	any data that it maintains.
26.14 	(d) The commissioner or the commissioner's designee shall not publish analyses or 
26.15 	reports that identify, or could potentially identify, individual patients.
26.16 		Subd. 5.Pricing data. (a) Beginning July 1, 2009, and annually on January 1 
26.17 	thereafter, all health plan companies and third-party administrators shall submit data 
26.18 	on their contracted prices with health care providers to a private entity designated by 
26.19 	the commissioner of health for the purposes of performing the analyses required under 
26.20 	this subdivision. The data shall be submitted in the form and manner specified by the 
26.21 	commissioner of health.
26.22 	(b) The commissioner or the commissioner's designee shall only use the data 
26.23 	submitted under this subdivision for the purpose of carrying out its responsibilities under 
26.24 	this section.
26.25 	(c) Data collected under this subdivision are nonpublic data as defined in section 
26.26 	13.02. Notwithstanding the definition of summary data in section 13.02, subdivision 19, 
26.27 	summary data prepared under this section may be derived from nonpublic data. The 
26.28 	commissioner shall establish procedures and safeguards to protect the integrity and 
26.29 	confidentiality of any data that it maintains.
26.30 		Subd. 6.Contracting. The commissioner may contract with a private entity 
26.31 	or consortium of entities to develop the standards. The private entity or consortium 
26.32 	must be nonprofit and have governance that includes representatives from the following 
26.33 	stakeholder groups: health care providers, health plan companies, hospitals, consumers, 
26.34 	employers or other health care purchasers, and state government. The entity or consortium 
26.35 	must ensure that the representatives of stakeholder groups in the aggregate reflect all 
27.1 	geographic areas of the state. No one stakeholder group shall have a majority of the votes 
27.2 	on any issue or hold extraordinary powers not granted to any other governance stakeholder.
27.3 		Subd. 7.Consumer engagement. The commissioner of health shall convene a 
27.4 	work group to develop strategies for engaging consumers in understanding the importance 
27.5 	of health care cost and quality, specifically as it relates to health care outcomes, consumer 
27.6 	out-of-pocket costs, and variations in health care cost and quality across providers. The 
27.7 	work group shall develop strategies to assist consumers in becoming advocates for higher 
27.8 	value health care and a more efficient, effective health care system. The work group shall 
27.9 	make recommendations to the commissioner and the legislature by January 1, 2010, and 
27.10 	shall identify specific action steps needed to achieve the recommendations.
27.11 		Subd. 8.Provider innovation to reduce health care costs and improve quality.
 27.12 	(a) Nothing in this section shall prohibit group purchasers and health care providers, 
27.13 	upon mutual agreement, from entering into arrangements that establish package prices 
27.14 	for a comprehensive set of services or separately for the cost of care for specific health 
27.15 	conditions in addition to the baskets of care established in section 62U.05, in order to give 
27.16 	providers the flexibility to innovate on ways to reduce health care costs while improving 
27.17 	overall quality of care and health outcomes.
27.18 	(b) The commissioner of health may convene working groups of private sector 
27.19 	payers and health care providers to discuss and develop new strategies for reforming 
27.20 	health care payment systems to promote innovative care delivery that reduces health 
27.21 	care costs and improves quality.
27.22 		Subd. 9.Uses of information. (a) By January 1, 2011:
27.23 	(1) the commissioner of finance shall use the information and methods developed 
27.24 	under subdivision 3 to strengthen incentives for members of the state employee group 
27.25 	insurance program to use high-quality, low-cost providers;
27.26 	(2) all political subdivisions, as defined in section 13.02, subdivision 11, that offer 
27.27 	health benefits to their employees must offer plans that differentiate providers on their 
27.28 	cost and quality performance and create incentives for members to use better-performing 
27.29 	providers;
27.30 	(3) all health plan companies shall use the information and methods developed 
27.31 	under subdivision 3 to develop products that encourage consumers to use high-quality, 
27.32 	low-cost providers; and
27.33 	(4) health plan companies that issue health plans in the individual market or the 
27.34 	small employer market must offer at least one health plan that uses the information 
27.35 	developed under subdivision 3 to establish financial incentives for consumers to choose 
28.1 	higher-quality, lower-cost providers through enrollee cost-sharing or selective provider 
28.2 	networks.
28.3 	(b) By January 1, 2011, the commissioner of health shall report to the governor 
28.4 	and the legislature on recommendations to encourage health plan companies to promote 
28.5 	widespread adoption of products that encourage the use of high-quality, low-cost providers. 
28.6 	The commissioner's recommendations may include tax incentives, public reporting of 
28.7 	health plan performance, regulatory incentives or changes, and other strategies.

28.8 	Sec. 8. [62U.05] PROVIDER PRICING FOR BASKETS OF CARE.
28.9 		Subdivision 1.Establishment of definitions. (a) By July 1, 2009, the commissioner 
28.10 	of health shall establish uniform definitions for baskets of care beginning with a minimum 
28.11 	of seven baskets of care. In selecting health conditions for which baskets of care should 
28.12 	be defined, the commissioner shall consider coronary artery and heart disease, diabetes, 
28.13 	asthma, and depression. In selecting health conditions, the commissioner shall also 
28.14 	consider the prevalence of the health conditions, the cost of treating the health conditions, 
28.15 	and the potential for innovations to reduce cost and improve quality.
28.16 	(b) The commissioner shall convene one or more work groups to assist in 
28.17 	establishing these definitions. Each work group shall include members appointed by 
28.18 	statewide associations representing relevant health care providers and health plan 
28.19 	companies, and organizations that work to improve health care quality in Minnesota.
28.20 	(c) To the extent possible, the baskets of care must incorporate a patient-directed, 
28.21 	decision-making support model.
28.22 		Subd. 2.Package prices. (a) Beginning January 1, 2010, health care providers may 
28.23 	establish package prices for the baskets of care defined under subdivision 1.
28.24 	(b) Beginning January 1, 2010, no health care provider or group of providers that has 
28.25 	established a package price for a basket of care under this section shall vary the payment 
28.26 	amount that the provider accepts as full payment for a health care service based upon 
28.27 	the identity of the payer, upon a contractual relationship with a payer, upon the identity 
28.28 	of the patient, or upon whether the patient has coverage through a group purchaser. 
28.29 	This paragraph applies only to health care services provided to Minnesota residents or 
28.30 	to non-Minnesota residents who obtain health insurance through a Minnesota employer. 
28.31 	This paragraph does not apply to services paid for by Medicare, state public health care 
28.32 	programs through fee-for-service or prepaid arrangements, workers' compensation, or 
28.33 	no-fault automobile insurance. This paragraph does not affect the right of a provider to 
28.34 	provide charity care or care for a reduced price due to financial hardship of the patient or 
28.35 	due to the patient being a relative or friend of the provider. 
29.1 		Subd. 3.Quality measurements for baskets of care. (a) The commissioner shall 
29.2 	establish quality measurements for the defined baskets of care by December 31, 2009. 
29.3 	The commissioner may contract with an organization that works to improve health care 
29.4 	quality to make recommendations about the use of existing measures or establishing new 
29.5 	measures where no measures currently exist.
29.6 	(b) Beginning July 1, 2010, the commissioner or the commissioner's designee shall 
29.7 	publish comparative price and quality information on the baskets of care in a manner that is 
29.8 	easily accessible and understandable to the public, as this information becomes available.

29.9 	Sec. 9. [62U.06] COORDINATION; LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT ON 
29.10 	PAYMENT RESTRUCTURING.
29.11 		Subdivision 1.Coordination. In carrying out the responsibilities of this chapter, the 
29.12 	commissioner of health shall ensure that the activities and data collection are implemented 
29.13 	in an integrated and coordinated manner that avoids unnecessary duplication of effort. 
29.14 	To the extent possible, the commissioner shall use existing data sources and implement 
29.15 	methods to streamline data collection in order to reduce public and private sector 
29.16 	administrative costs.
29.17 		Subd. 2.Legislative oversight. Beginning January 15, 2009, the commissioner of 
29.18 	health shall submit to the Legislative Commission on Health Care Access periodic progress 
29.19 	reports on the implementation of this chapter and sections 256B.0751 to 256B.0754.
29.20 		Subd. 3.Rulemaking. For purposes of this chapter, the commissioner may use the 
29.21 	expedited rulemaking process under section 14.389.

29.22 	Sec. 10. [62U.07] SECTION 125 PLANS.
29.23 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have 
29.24 	the meanings given them.
29.25 	(a) "Employee" means an employee currently on an employer's payroll other than a 
29.26 	retiree or disabled former employee.
29.27 	(b) "Employer" means a person, firm, corporation, partnership, association, business 
29.28 	trust, or other entity employing one or more persons, including a political subdivision of 
29.29 	the state, filing payroll tax information on the employed person or persons.
29.30 	(c) "Section 125 Plan" means a cafeteria or premium-only plan under section 125 of 
29.31 	the Internal Revenue Code that allows employees to pay for health coverage premiums 
29.32 	with pretax dollars.
29.33 	(d) "Small employer" means an employer with two to 50 employees.
30.1 		Subd. 2.Section 125 Plan requirement. (a) Effective July 1, 2009, all employers 
30.2 	with 11 or more current full-time equivalent employees in this state shall establish and 
30.3 	maintain a Section 125 Plan to allow their employees to purchase individual market or 
30.4 	employer-based health coverage with pretax dollars. Nothing in this section requires 
30.5 	employers to offer or purchase group health coverage for their employees. The following 
30.6 	employers are exempt from the Section 125 Plan requirement:
30.7 	(1) employers that offer a health plan as defined in section 62A.011, subdivision 
30.8 	3, that is group coverage;
30.9 	(2) employers that provide self-insurance as defined in section 62E.02; or
30.10 	(3) employers that have no employees who are eligible to participate in a Section 
30.11 	125 Plan.
30.12 	(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), an employer may opt out of the requirement to 
30.13 	establish a Section 125 Plan by sending a form to the commissioner of commerce. The 
30.14 	commissioner of commerce shall create a check-box form for employers to opt out. The 
30.15 	form must contain a check box indicating the employer is choosing to opt out and a check 
30.16 	box indicating that the employer certifies they have received education and information 
30.17 	on the advantages of Section 125 Plans. The commissioner of commerce shall make the 
30.18 	form available through their Web site by April 1, 2009.
30.19 		Subd. 3.Employer requirements. (a) Employers that do not offer a health plan as 
30.20 	defined in section 62A.011, subdivision 3, that is group coverage and are required to offer 
30.21 	or choose to offer a Section 125 Plan shall:
30.22 	(1) allow employees to purchase an individual market health plan for themselves 
30.23 	and their dependents;
30.24 	(2) allow employees to choose any insurance producer licensed in accident and health 
30.25 	insurance under chapter 60K to assist them in purchasing an individual market health plan;
30.26 	(3) upon an employee's request, deduct premium amounts on a pretax basis in an 
30.27 	amount not to exceed an employee's wages, and remit these employee payments to the 
30.28 	health plan; and
30.29 	(4) provide notice to employees that individual market health plans purchased by 
30.30 	employees through payroll deduction are not employer-sponsored or administered.
30.31 	(b) Employers shall be held harmless from any and all claims related to the 
30.32 	individual market health plans purchased by employees under a Section 125 Plan.
30.33 		Subd. 4.Section 125 Plan employer incentives. (a) The commissioner of 
30.34 	employment and economic development shall award grants to eligible small employers 
30.35 	that establish Section 125 Plans. 
30.36 	(b) In order to be eligible for a grant, a small employer must:
31.1 	(1) not have offered health insurance to employees through a group health insurance 
31.2 	plan as defined in section 62A.10 or through a self-insured plan as defined in section 
31.3 	62E.02 in the 12 months prior to applying for grant funding under this section;
31.4 	(2) have established a Section 125 Plan within 90 days prior to applying for grant 
31.5 	funding under this section, and must not have offered a Section 125 Plan to employees 
31.6 	for at least a nine-month period prior to the establishment of the Section 125 Plan under 
31.7 	this section; and
31.8 	(3) certify to the commissioner that the employer has established a Section 125 Plan 
31.9 	and meets the requirements of subdivision 3.
31.10 	(c) The amount of the grant awarded to a small employer under this section shall 
31.11 	be $350.

31.12 	Sec. 11. [62U.08] ESSENTIAL BENEFIT SET.
31.13 		Subdivision 1.Work group created. The commissioner of health shall convene a 
31.14 	work group to make recommendations on the design of a health benefit set that provides 
31.15 	coverage for a broad range of services and technologies, is based on scientific evidence 
31.16 	that the services and technologies are clinically effective and cost-effective, and provides 
31.17 	lower enrollee cost sharing for services and technologies that have been determined to 
31.18 	be cost-effective. The work group shall include representatives of health care providers, 
31.19 	health plans, state agencies, and employers. Members of the work group must have 
31.20 	expertise in standards for evidence-based care, benefit design and development, actuarial 
31.21 	analysis, or knowledge relating to the analysis of the cost impact of coverage of specified 
31.22 	benefits. The work group must meet at least once per year and at other times as necessary 
31.23 	to make recommendations to the commissioner on updating the benefit set as necessary to 
31.24 	ensure that the benefit set continues to be safe, effective, and scientifically based.
31.25 		Subd. 2.Duties. By October 15, 2009, the work group shall develop and submit 
31.26 	to the commissioner an initial essential benefit set and design that includes coverage 
31.27 	for a broad range of services, is based on scientific evidence that services are clinically 
31.28 	effective and cost-effective, and provides lower enrollee cost sharing for services that 
31.29 	have been determined to be cost-effective. The benefit set must include necessary 
31.30 	evidence-based health care services, procedures, diagnostic tests, and technologies that 
31.31 	are scientifically proven to be both clinically effective and cost-effective. In developing 
31.32 	its recommendations, the work group may consult with the Institute for Clinical Systems 
31.33 	Improvement (ICSI) to assemble existing scientifically based practice standards.
32.1 		Subd. 3.Report. By January 15, 2010, the commissioner shall report the 
32.2 	recommendations of the work group to the chairs and ranking minority members of the 
32.3 	legislative committees and divisions with jurisdiction over health care policy and finance.

32.4 	Sec. 12. [62U.09] HEALTH CARE REFORM REVIEW COUNCIL.
32.5 		Subdivision 1.Establishment. The Health Care Reform Review Council is 
32.6 	established for the purpose of periodically reviewing the progress of implementation of 
32.7 	this chapter and sections 256B.0751 to 256B.0754.
32.8 		Subd. 2.Members. (a) The Health Care Reform Review Council shall consist of 14 
32.9 	members who are appointed as follows:
32.10 	(1) two members appointed by the Minnesota Medical Association, at least one 
32.11 	of whom must represent rural physicians; 
32.12 	(2) one member appointed by the Minnesota Nurses Association;
32.13 	(3) two members appointed by the Minnesota Hospital Association, at least one of 
32.14 	whom must be a rural hospital administrator;
32.15 	(4) one member appointed by the Minnesota Academy of Physician Assistants;
32.16 	(5) one member appointed by the Minnesota Business Partnership;
32.17 	(6) one member appointed by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce;
32.18 	(7) one member appointed by the SEIU Minnesota State Council; 
32.19 	(8) one member appointed by the AFL-CIO;
32.20 	(9) one member appointed by the Minnesota Council of Health Plans;
32.21 	(10) one member appointed by the Smart Buy Alliance;
32.22 	(11) one member appointed by the Minnesota Medical Group Management 
32.23 	Association; and
32.24 	(12) one consumer member appointed by AARP Minnesota.
32.25 	(b) If a member is no longer able or eligible to participate, a new member shall be 
32.26 	appointed by the entity that appointed the outgoing member.
32.27 		Subd. 3.Operations of council. (a) The commissioner of health shall convene the 
32.28 	first meeting of the council on or before January 15, 2009, following the initial appointment 
32.29 	of the members and the advisory council must meet at least quarterly thereafter.
32.30 	(b) The council is governed by section 15.059, except that members shall not receive 
32.31 	per diems and the council does not expire.

32.32 	Sec. 13. STUDY OF UNIFORM CLAIMS REVIEW PROCESS.
 32.33 	The commissioner of health shall establish a work group including representatives 
32.34 	of the Minnesota Hospital Association, Minnesota Medical Association, and Minnesota 
33.1 	Council of Health Plans to make recommendations on the potential for reducing claims 
33.2 	adjudication costs of health care providers and health plan companies by adopting more 
33.3 	uniform payment methods, and the potential impact of establishing uniform prices that 
33.4 	would replace current prices negotiated individually by providers with separate payers. 
33.5 	The work group shall make its recommendations to the commissioner by January 1, 2010, 
33.6 	and shall identify specific action steps needed to achieve the recommendations.

33.7 	Sec. 14. HEALTH CARE AFFORDABILITY PROPOSAL.
 33.8 	The commissioner of health, in coordination with the commissioner of human 
33.9 	services, shall develop a health care affordability proposal for eligible individuals and 
33.10 	employees with access to employer-subsidized health coverage and with gross family 
33.11 	incomes of 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines or less. For purposes of this 
33.12 	section, "employer-subsidized health coverage" has the meaning provided in Minnesota 
33.13 	Statutes, section 256L.07, subdivision 2, paragraph (c). The commissioner must evaluate 
33.14 	and report on direct payments to individuals, tax credits, including refundable tax credits, 
33.15 	tax deductions and a combination of direct payments, tax credits, and tax deductions 
33.16 	as mechanisms for providing affordable health coverage to individuals and families. 
33.17 	The proposal must be designed so that qualified individuals and families have access to 
33.18 	affordable coverage. For purposes of this section, coverage is "affordable" if the sum of 
33.19 	premiums, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket costs paid by an individual or family for 
33.20 	health coverage does not exceed the applicable percentage of the individual's or family's 
33.21 	gross monthly income set forth in Minnesota Statutes, section 256L.15, subdivision 2, 
33.22 	paragraph (d). The commissioner shall submit a report and recommendations to the 
33.23 	legislature by January 15, 2009.

33.24 	ARTICLE 5
33.25 	APPROPRIATIONS

33.26	Section 1. SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS.
 	
33.27 	The amounts shown in this section summarize direct appropriations, by fund, made 
33.28 	in this article.

33.29					2009
		Total
	
33.30	General Fund
			$
	(3,254,000)
	$
	(3,254,000)
	
33.31	Health Care Access Fund
		14,526,000
		14,526,000
	
33.32	Total
			$
	11,272,000
	$
	11,272,000

33.33	Sec. 2. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES APPROPRIATIONS.
 	
34.1 	The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are added to or, if 
34.2 	shown in parentheses, subtracted from the appropriations in Laws 2007, chapter 147, 
34.3 	article 19, or other law to the agencies and for the purposes specified in this article. The 
34.4 	appropriations are from the general fund, or another named fund, and are available for 
34.5 	the fiscal year indicated for each purpose. The figure "2009" used in this article means 
34.6 	that the addition to or subtraction from the appropriation listed under it is available for the 
34.7 	fiscal year ending June 30, 2009. 

34.8				APPROPRIATIONS
	
34.9				Available for the Year
	
34.10				Ending June 30
	
34.11							2009

34.12	Sec. 3. HUMAN SERVICES

34.13	Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation
 			$
	3,063,000

34.14	Appropriations by Fund
	
34.15			2009
	
34.16	General
		(2,430,000)
	
34.17	Health Care Access 
		5,493,000
	
34.18 	The amounts that may be spent for each 
34.19 	purpose are specified in the following 
34.20 	subdivisions.

34.21
34.22	Subd. 2.Children and Economic Assistance 
Operations

34.23	Health Care Access
		6,000
	
34.24 	This is a onetime appropriation.

34.25	Subd. 3.Basic Health Care Grants
 					
34.26 	The amounts that may be spent from the 
34.27 	appropriation for each purpose are as follows:

34.28	(a) MinnesotaCare Grants

34.29	Health Care Access
		3,657,000
	
34.30 	Seamless Coverage for MinnesotaCare 
34.31 	Eligible Children. In the fiscal year 
34.32 	beginning July 1, 2008, the seamless 
34.33 	coverage for MinnesotaCare eligible children 
34.34 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 256B.057, 
35.1 	subdivision 2c, shall be paid for out of the 
35.2 	health care access fund. Notwithstanding 
35.3 	any contrary provision in this article, this 
35.4 	paragraph shall not expire.

35.5
35.6	(b) MA Basic Health Care Grants Families and 
Children

35.7	General Fund
		(3,657,000)

35.8	Subd. 4.Health Care Management
 					
35.9 	The amounts that may be spent from the 
35.10 	appropriation for each purpose are as follows:

35.11	(a) Health Care Policy Administration

35.12	General
		1,008,000
	
35.13	Health Care Access
		1,004,000
	
35.14 	Base Adjustment. The health care access 
35.15 	fund is decreased by $954,000 in fiscal year 
35.16 	2010 and decreased by $954,000 in fiscal 
35.17 	year 2011.
35.18 	Base Adjustment. The general fund base 
35.19 	is decreased by $80,000 in both fiscal years 
35.20 	2010 and 2011.
35.21 	Department of Education Computer 
35.22 	System. Of the health care access 
35.23 	fund appropriation, $50,000 is for the 
35.24 	commissioner to enter into an agreement 
35.25 	with the Department of Education for the 
35.26 	modification of the department's computer 
35.27 	system to implement Minnesota Statutes, 
35.28 	section 124D.1115. This is a onetime 
35.29 	appropriation.
35.30 	Health Care Homes. The health care access 
35.31 	fund appropriation to the commissioner 
35.32 	to implement and administer health care 
35.33 	homes under Minnesota Statutes, sections 
35.34 	256B.0751 to 256B.0753, is available 
36.1 	through June 30, 2011. The base funding for 
36.2 	this activity in fiscal year 2012 and beyond 
36.3 	is zero. Notwithstanding any contrary 
36.4 	provision in this article, this paragraph 
36.5 	expires December 31, 2011.

36.6	(b) Health Care Operations

36.7	General
		219,000
	
36.8	Health Care Access
		826,000
	
36.9 	Incentive Program and Outreach Grants.
36.10 	Of the appropriation for the Minnesota health 
36.11 	care outreach program in Laws 2007, chapter 
36.12 	147, article 19, section 3, subdivision 7, 
36.13 	paragraph (b):
36.14 	(1) $400,000 in fiscal year 2009 from the 
36.15 	general fund and $200,000 in fiscal year 2009 
36.16 	from the  health care access fund are for the 
36.17 	incentive  program under Minnesota Statutes, 
36.18 	section  256.962, subdivision 5. For the 
36.19 	biennium  beginning July 1, 2009, base level 
36.20 	funding  for this activity shall be $360,000 
36.21 	from the  general fund and $160,000 from the 
36.22 	health  care access fund; and
36.23 	(2) $100,000 in fiscal year 2009 from the 
36.24 	general fund and $50,000 in fiscal year 2009 
36.25 	from the health care access fund are for the 
36.26 	outreach grants under Minnesota Statutes, 
36.27 	section 256.962, subdivision 2. For the 
36.28 	biennium beginning July 1, 2009, base level 
36.29 	funding for this activity shall be $90,000 
36.30 	from the general fund and $40,000 from the 
36.31 	health  care access fund.
36.32 	Outreach Funding. (1) The health care 
36.33 	access fund base funding for the incentive 
36.34 	program under Minnesota Statutes, section 
36.35 	256.962, subdivision 5, shall be increased by 
37.1 	$100,000 for the fiscal year beginning July 
37.2 	1, 2009.
37.3 	(2) Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, 
37.4 	section 295.581, the commissioner of finance 
37.5 	shall reimburse the medical assistance 
37.6 	general fund account from the health care 
37.7 	access fund by $701,000 in fiscal year 2010 
37.8 	and $1,527,000 in fiscal year 2011 for the 
37.9 	cost to the general fund for the increase in 
37.10 	enrollment to the medical assistance program 
37.11 	for families with children due to the outreach 
37.12 	efforts.
37.13 	Base Adjustment. The health care access 
37.14 	fund base is decreased by $379,000 in 
37.15 	fiscal year 2010 and decreased by $340,000 
37.16 	in fiscal year 2011. The general fund 
37.17 	appropriation is onetime.

37.18	Sec. 4. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH

37.19	Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation
 			$
	8,209,000

37.20	Appropriations by Fund
	
37.21			2009
	
37.22	Health Care Access 
		9,033,000
	
37.23	General
		(824,000)
	
37.24 	The amounts that may be spent for each 
37.25 	purpose are specified in the following 
37.26 	subdivisions.

37.27
37.28	Subd. 2.Community and Family Health 
Promotion

37.29	Health Care Access 
		1,188,000
	
37.30 	Base Adjustment. The health care access 
37.31 	fund base shall be increased by $20,454,000 
37.32 	in fiscal year 2010 and $27,531,000 in 
37.33 	fiscal year 2011. Of these base adjustments, 
37.34 	$19,587,000 in fiscal year 2010 and 
38.1 	$26,175,000 in fiscal year 2011 is for 
38.2 	grants to local communities in accordance 
38.3 	with Minnesota Statutes, section 145.986, 
38.4 	subdivision 2; $413,000 in fiscal year 
38.5 	2010 and $825,000 in fiscal year 2011 is 
38.6 	for staffing, operating costs, contracts for 
38.7 	evaluation, and administration costs. The 
38.8 	base for this program in fiscal year 2012 is $0. 
38.9 	Notwithstanding any contrary provision in 
38.10 	this article, this paragraph expires December 
38.11 	31, 2012.
38.12 	Health Care Homes.  The commissioner of 
38.13 	health shall coordinate with the commissioner 
38.14 	of human services to maximize federal 
38.15 	financial participation for this activity.

38.16	Subd. 3.Policy, Quality, and Compliance

38.17	Health Care Access
		7,845,000
	
38.18	General
		(824,000)
	
38.19 	Health Savings Projections and 
38.20 	Measurement. $152,000 in fiscal year 2009 
38.21 	is for statewide health savings research and 
38.22 	measurement.
38.23 	Open Door Health Center. Of the health 
38.24 	care access fund appropriation, $350,000 is 
38.25 	to be awarded as a grant to the Open Door 
38.26 	Health Center to act as bridge funding to 
38.27 	meet the demand for health care services in 
38.28 	medically underserved areas.
38.29 	Community Benefit Standards. Of 
38.30 	this appropriation, $84,000 is for the 
38.31 	commissioner to make recommendations 
38.32 	to the legislature on community benefit 
38.33 	standards to be required of nonprofit health 
38.34 	plan companies doing business in the state. 
38.35 	The expectations of the community benefits 
39.1 	provided and reported should be related to the 
39.2 	statutory expectations in Minnesota Statutes, 
39.3 	sections 62C.01 and 62D.01, and focus on 
39.4 	supporting public health, improving the art 
39.5 	and science of medical care, and addressing 
39.6 	the need for financial assistance to access 
39.7 	ongoing coverage, and not related to general 
39.8 	philanthropic endeavors. The commissioner 
39.9 	shall seek public input regarding the range of 
39.10 	options to be explored and the accountability 
39.11 	measures.
39.12 	The recommendations must include a 
39.13 	procedure by which each nonprofit health 
39.14 	plan company would periodically and 
39.15 	uniformly report to the state and to the public 
39.16 	regarding the company's compliance with 
39.17 	the requirements.
39.18 	The commissioner shall recommend a fair 
39.19 	and effective enforcement and remediation 
39.20 	mechanism.
39.21 	Federally Qualified Health Centers. Of 
39.22 	the health care access fund appropriation, 
39.23 	$1,824,000 is for subsidies to federally 
39.24 	qualified health centers under Minnesota 
39.25 	Statutes, section 145.9269. The health care 
39.26 	access fund base for this activity shall be 
39.27 	$2,500,000 for fiscal years 2010 and 2011. 
39.28 	Notwithstanding any contrary provision in 
39.29 	this article, this paragraph expires December 
39.30 	31, 2012.
39.31 	The general fund appropriation for this 
39.32 	program shall be reduced by $824,000 for 
39.33 	fiscal year 2009, and by $1,500,000 in both 
39.34 	fiscal years 2010 and 2011. The general 
39.35 	fund appropriation for this program shall be 
40.1 	increased by $2,500,000 in both fiscal years 
40.2 	2012 and 2013.
40.3 	Health Care Reform. Funds appropriated to 
40.4 	the commissioner to implement article 4 shall 
40.5 	be available until expended. Base funding 
40.6 	for these activities in fiscal year 2013 is $0.
40.7 	Section 125 Employer Incentives.
40.8 	$1,000,000 from the health care access 
40.9 	fund is appropriated to the commissioner of 
40.10 	health to be transferred to the Department of 
40.11 	Employment and Economic Development 
40.12 	for grants authorized under Minnesota 
40.13 	Statutes, section 62U.07. This appropriation 
40.14 	is available until expended.
40.15 	Base Adjustment. The health care access 
40.16 	fund base shall be reduced by $1,851,000 in 
40.17 	fiscal year 2010, by $2,419,000 in fiscal year 
40.18 	2011, and by $4,159,000 in fiscal year 2012.

40.19	Sec. 5. COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE
 					
40.20 	The health care access fund base shall be 
40.21 	increased by $27,000 in fiscal year 2010 and 
40.22 	$15,000 in fiscal year 2011 for administrative 
40.23 	costs. The health care access fund base for 
40.24 	fiscal year 2012 and beyond is $0.

40.25	Sec. 6. COMMISSIONER OF FINANCE
 					
40.26 	Health Insurance Premiums Credit. The 
40.27 	commissioner of finance shall report to 
40.28 	the legislature the amount of any funds 
40.29 	transferred from the health care access fund 
40.30 	to the general fund for general fund costs 
40.31 	related to implementation of the health 
40.32 	insurance premiums credit under Minnesota 
40.33 	Statutes, section 290.0678, and shall include 
41.1 	this amount in the health care access fund 
41.2 	balance.

41.3 	Sec. 7. SUNSET OF UNCODIFIED LANGUAGE.
 41.4 	All uncodified language contained in this article expires on June 30, 2009, unless a 
41.5 	different expiration date is specified.

41.6 	Sec. 8. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 41.7 	The provisions in this article are effective July 1, 2008, unless a different effective 
41.8 	date is specified.