1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to health insurance; requiring health plan companies to include essential 
1.3 	community providers in all health plans; modifying contract payment rates;
1.4 	amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 62Q.19, subdivisions 3, 5.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 62Q.19, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subd. 3.Health plan company affiliation. A health plan company must offer a provider 
1.8 	contract to any all designated essential community provider providers located within the 
1.9 	area served by the health plan company. A health plan company must include all essential 
1.10 	community providers that have accepted a contract in every health plan issued by the 
1.11 	company. A health plan company shall not restrict enrollee access to services designated 
1.12 	to be provided by the essential community provider for the population that the essential 
1.13 	community provider is certified to serve. A health plan company may also make other 
1.14 	providers available for these services. A health plan company may require an essential 
1.15 	community provider to meet all data requirements, utilization review, and quality assurance 
1.16 	requirements on the same basis as other health plan providers.

1.17 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2025, and applies to health 
1.18 	plans offered, issued, or renewed on or after that date.

1.19 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 62Q.19, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
1.20 		Subd. 5.Contract payment rates. An essential community provider and a health plan 
1.21 	company may negotiate the payment rate for covered services provided by the essential 
1.22 	community provider. This rate must be at least the same rate per unit of service as is paid 
2.1 	by the health plan company under the largest product in place with that provider or, if no 
2.2 	product is currently in place, the rate must be at least the same rate per unit of service as is 
2.3 	paid to other health plan providers for the same or similar services.