Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital Icon Minnesota Legislature

Office of the Revisor of Statutes

SF 351

Introduction - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012)

Posted on 02/23/2012 08:41 a.m.

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.
Line numbers 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6
1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 2.27 2.28 2.29 2.30 2.31 2.32 2.33 2.34 2.35 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 3.24 3.25 3.26 3.27 3.28 3.29 3.30 3.31 3.32 3.33 3.34 3.35 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 4.26 4.27 4.28
4.29 4.30 4.31 4.32 4.33 4.34 4.35 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 5.19 5.20 5.21 5.22 5.23 5.24 5.25 5.26 5.27 5.28 5.29 5.30 5.31 5.32 5.33 5.34 5.35 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 6.9 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 6.17 6.18 6.19 6.20 6.21

A bill for an act
relating to health care; creating a withhold to managed care plans and
county-based purchasing plans for reducing second hospitalizations within 30
days of a hospitalization; amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 256B.69,
subdivision 5a; 256L.12, subdivision 9.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 256B.69, subdivision 5a, is amended to
read:


Subd. 5a.

Managed care contracts.

(a) Managed care contracts under this section
and section 256L.12 shall be entered into or renewed on a calendar year basis beginning
January 1, 1996. Managed care contracts which were in effect on June 30, 1995, and set to
renew on July 1, 1995, shall be renewed for the period July 1, 1995 through December
31, 1995 at the same terms that were in effect on June 30, 1995. The commissioner may
issue separate contracts with requirements specific to services to medical assistance
recipients age 65 and older.

(b) A prepaid health plan providing covered health services for eligible persons
pursuant to chapters 256B and 256L is responsible for complying with the terms of its
contract with the commissioner. Requirements applicable to managed care programs
under chapters 256B and 256L established after the effective date of a contract with the
commissioner take effect when the contract is next issued or renewed.

(c) Effective for services rendered on or after January 1, 2003, the commissioner
shall withhold five percent of managed care plan payments under this section and
county-based purchasing plan payments under section 256B.692 for the prepaid medical
assistance program pending completion of performance targets. Each performance target
must be quantifiable, objective, measurable, and reasonably attainable, except in the case
of a performance target based on a federal or state law or rule. Criteria for assessment
of each performance target must be outlined in writing prior to the contract effective
date. The managed care plan must demonstrate, to the commissioner's satisfaction,
that the data submitted regarding attainment of the performance target is accurate. The
commissioner shall periodically change the administrative measures used as performance
targets in order to improve plan performance across a broader range of administrative
services. The performance targets must include measurement of plan efforts to contain
spending on health care services and administrative activities. The commissioner may
adopt plan-specific performance targets that take into account factors affecting only one
plan, including characteristics of the plan's enrollee population. The withheld funds
must be returned no sooner than July of the following year if performance targets in the
contract are achieved. The commissioner may exclude special demonstration projects
under subdivision 23.

(d) Effective for services rendered on or after January 1, 2009, through December
31, 2009, the commissioner shall withhold three percent of managed care plan payments
under this section and county-based purchasing plan payments under section 256B.692
for the prepaid medical assistance program. The withheld funds must be returned no
sooner than July 1 and no later than July 31 of the following year. The commissioner may
exclude special demonstration projects under subdivision 23.

(e) Effective for services provided on or after January 1, 2010, the commissioner
shall require that managed care plans use the assessment and authorization processes,
forms, timelines, standards, documentation, and data reporting requirements, protocols,
billing processes, and policies consistent with medical assistance fee-for-service or the
Department of Human Services contract requirements consistent with medical assistance
fee-for-service or the Department of Human Services contract requirements for all
personal care assistance services under section 256B.0659.

(f) Effective for services rendered on or after January 1, 2010, through December
31, 2010, the commissioner shall withhold 4.5 percent of managed care plan payments
under this section and county-based purchasing plan payments under section 256B.692
for the prepaid medical assistance program. The withheld funds must be returned no
sooner than July 1 and no later than July 31 of the following year. The commissioner may
exclude special demonstration projects under subdivision 23.

(g) Effective for services rendered on or after January 1, 2011, the commissioner
shall include as part of the performance targets described in paragraph (c) a reduction in
the health plan's emergency room utilization rate for state health care program enrollees
by a measurable rate of five percent from the plan's utilization rate for state health care
program enrollees for the previous calendar year.

The withheld funds must be returned no sooner than July 1 and no later than July 31
of the following calendar year if the managed care plan demonstrates to the satisfaction of
the commissioner that a reduction in the utilization rate was achieved.

The withhold described in this paragraph shall continue for each consecutive
contract period until the plan's emergency room utilization rate for state health care
program enrollees is reduced by 25 percent of the plan's emergency room utilization
rate for state health care program enrollees for calendar year 2009. Hospitals shall
cooperate with the health plans in meeting this performance target and shall accept
payment withholds that may be returned to the hospitals if the performance target is
achieved. The commissioner shall structure the withhold so that the commissioner returns
a portion of the withheld funds in amounts commensurate with achieved reductions in
utilization less than the targeted amount. The withhold in this paragraph does not apply to
county-based purchasing plans.

new text begin (h) Effective for services rendered on or after January 1, 2012, the commissioner
shall include as part of the performance targets described in paragraph (c) a reduction in
the plan's hospitalization rate for subsequent hospitalizations within 30 days of a previous
hospitalization of a patient regardless of the reason for the hospitalization for state health
care program enrollees by a measurable rate of five percent from the plan's utilization rate
for state health care program enrollees for the previous calendar year.
new text end

new text begin The withheld funds must be returned no sooner than July 1 and no later than July
31 of the following calendar year if the managed care plan or county-based purchasing
plan demonstrates to the satisfaction of the commissioner that this reduction in the
hospitalization rate was achieved.
new text end

new text begin The withhold described in this paragraph shall continue for each consecutive
contract period until the plan's subsequent hospitalization rate for state health care program
enrollees is reduced by 25 percent of the plan's subsequent hospitalization rate for state
health care program enrollees for calendar year 2010. Hospitals shall cooperate with the
plans in meeting this performance target and shall accept payment withholds that may be
returned to the hospitals if the performance target is achieved.
new text end

deleted text begin (h)deleted text end new text begin (i) new text end Effective for services rendered on or after January 1, 2011, through December
31, 2011, the commissioner shall withhold 4.5 percent of managed care plan payments
under this section and county-based purchasing plan payments under section 256B.692
for the prepaid medical assistance program. The withheld funds must be returned no
sooner than July 1 and no later than July 31 of the following year. The commissioner may
exclude special demonstration projects under subdivision 23.

deleted text begin (i)deleted text end new text begin (j) new text end Effective for services rendered on or after January 1, 2012, through December
31, 2012, the commissioner shall withhold 4.5 percent of managed care plan payments
under this section and county-based purchasing plan payments under section 256B.692
for the prepaid medical assistance program. The withheld funds must be returned no
sooner than July 1 and no later than July 31 of the following year. The commissioner may
exclude special demonstration projects under subdivision 23.

deleted text begin (j)deleted text end new text begin (k) new text end Effective for services rendered on or after January 1, 2013, through December
31, 2013, the commissioner shall withhold 4.5 percent of managed care plan payments
under this section and county-based purchasing plan payments under section 256B.692
for the prepaid medical assistance program. The withheld funds must be returned no
sooner than July 1 and no later than July 31 of the following year. The commissioner may
exclude special demonstration projects under subdivision 23.

deleted text begin (k)deleted text end new text begin (l) new text end Effective for services rendered on or after January 1, 2014, the commissioner
shall withhold three percent of managed care plan payments under this section and
county-based purchasing plan payments under section 256B.692 for the prepaid medical
assistance program. The withheld funds must be returned no sooner than July 1 and
no later than July 31 of the following year. The commissioner may exclude special
demonstration projects under subdivision 23.

deleted text begin (l)deleted text end new text begin (m) new text end A managed care plan or a county-based purchasing plan under section
256B.692 may include as admitted assets under section 62D.044 any amount withheld
under this section that is reasonably expected to be returned.

deleted text begin (m)deleted text end new text begin (n) new text end Contracts between the commissioner and a prepaid health plan are exempt
from the set-aside and preference provisions of section 16C.16, subdivisions 6, paragraph
(a), and 7.

deleted text begin (n)deleted text end new text begin (o) new text end The return of the withhold under paragraphs (d), (f), and deleted text begin (h)deleted text end new text begin (i)new text end to deleted text begin (k)deleted text end new text begin (l)new text end is
not subject to the requirements of paragraph (c).

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 256L.12, subdivision 9, is amended to read:


Subd. 9.

Rate setting; performance withholds.

(a) Rates will be prospective,
per capita, where possible. The commissioner may allow health plans to arrange for
inpatient hospital services on a risk or nonrisk basis. The commissioner shall consult with
an independent actuary to determine appropriate rates.

(b) For services rendered on or after January 1, 2004, the commissioner shall
withhold five percent of managed care plan payments and county-based purchasing
plan payments under this section pending completion of performance targets. Each
performance target must be quantifiable, objective, measurable, and reasonably attainable,
except in the case of a performance target based on a federal or state law or rule. Criteria
for assessment of each performance target must be outlined in writing prior to the
contract effective date. The managed care plan must demonstrate, to the commissioner's
satisfaction, that the data submitted regarding attainment of the performance target is
accurate. The commissioner shall periodically change the administrative measures used
as performance targets in order to improve plan performance across a broader range of
administrative services. The performance targets must include measurement of plan
efforts to contain spending on health care services and administrative activities. The
commissioner may adopt plan-specific performance targets that take into account factors
affecting only one plan, such as characteristics of the plan's enrollee population. The
withheld funds must be returned no sooner than July 1 and no later than July 31 of the
following calendar year if performance targets in the contract are achieved.

(c) For services rendered on or after January 1, 2011, the commissioner shall
withhold an additional three percent of managed care plan or county-based purchasing
plan payments under this section. The withheld funds must be returned no sooner than
July 1 and no later than July 31 of the following calendar year. The return of the withhold
under this paragraph is not subject to the requirements of paragraph (b).

(d) Effective for services rendered on or after January 1, 2011, the commissioner
shall include as part of the performance targets described in paragraph (b) a reduction in
the plan's emergency room utilization rate for state health care program enrollees by a
measurable rate of five percent from the plan's utilization rate for the previous calendar
year.

The withheld funds must be returned no sooner than July 1 and no later than July 31
of the following calendar year if the managed care plan demonstrates to the satisfaction of
the commissioner that a reduction in the utilization rate was achieved.

The withhold described in this paragraph shall continue for each consecutive
contract period until the plan's emergency room utilization rate for state health care
program enrollees is reduced by 25 percent of the plan's emergency room utilization rate
for state health care program enrollees for calendar year 2009. Hospitals shall cooperate
with the health plans in meeting this performance target and shall accept payment
withholds that may be returned to the hospitals if the performance target is achieved. The
commissioner shall structure the withhold so that the commissioner returns a portion of
the withheld funds in amounts commensurate with achieved reductions in utilization less
than the targeted amount. The withhold described in this paragraph does not apply to
county-based purchasing plans.

new text begin (e) Effective for services rendered on or after January 1, 2012, the commissioner
shall include as part of the performance targets described in paragraph (b) a reduction in
the plan's hospitalization rate for a subsequent hospitalization within 30 days of a previous
hospitalization of a patient regardless of the reason for the hospitalization for state health
care program enrollees by a measurable rate of five percent from the plan's hospitalization
rate for the previous calendar year.
new text end

new text begin The withheld funds must be returned no sooner than July 1 and no later than July
31 of the following calendar year if the managed care plan or county-based purchasing
plan demonstrates to the satisfaction of the commissioner that this reduction in the
hospitalization rate was achieved.
new text end

new text begin The withhold described in this paragraph shall continue for each consecutive
contract period until the plan's subsequent hospitalization rate for state health care program
enrollees is reduced by 25 percent of the plan's subsequent hospitalization rate for state
health care program enrollees for calendar year 2010. Hospitals shall cooperate with the
plans in meeting this performance target and shall accept payment withholds that may be
returned to the hospitals if the performance target is achieved.
new text end

deleted text begin (e)deleted text end new text begin (f) new text end A managed care plan or a county-based purchasing plan under section
256B.692 may include as admitted assets under section 62D.044 any amount withheld
under this section that is reasonably expected to be returned.