1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to health; allowing a patient to enjoin collection actions taken by a 
1.3 	nonprofit hospital if the hospital has failed to provide a financial assistance 
1.4 	policy;proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 604.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [604.175] COMPLIANCE WITH DEBT COLLECTION 
1.7 	REQUIREMENTS.
1.8 	(a) Any patient may bring an action to enjoin extraordinary collection actions taken 
1.9 	by a nonprofit hospital if the hospital has failed to provide a plain language summary of 
1.10 	the financial assistance policy. A prevailing patient is entitled to reasonable attorney 
1.11 	fees and costs.
1.12 	(b) For the purposes of this section:
1.13 	(1) "extraordinary collection actions" means an action described in Code of Federal 
1.14 	Regulations, title 26, section 1.501(r)-6;
1.15 	(2) "financial assistance policy" means a written policy that meets the requirements 
1.16 	described in Code of Federal Regulations, title 26, section 1.501(r)-4;
1.17 	(3) "nonprofit hospital" means a hospital that claims federal tax status under United 
1.18 	States Code, title 26, section 501(r); and
1.19 	(4) "plain language summary" has the meaning given in Code of Federal Regulations, 
1.20 	title 26, section 501(r)-1.

1.21 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2016, and applies to a 
1.22 	nonprofit hospital on and after the date in 2016 when its fiscal year begins.