HF 3513

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 02/17/2022 02:18pm

A bill for an act
relating to health care; creating a premium assistance program for child care
workers; requiring a report; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 62V.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [62V.50] PREMIUM ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR CHILD CARE
WORKERS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of this section, the definitions in this
subdivision have the meanings given to them.
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new text begin (b) "Child care facility" means a child care facility or program licensed under Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 245A, and includes family child care and child care centers.
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new text begin (c) "Health carrier" has the meaning given in Minnesota Statutes, section 62A.011.
new text end

new text begin (d) "MNsure" has the meaning given in Minnesota Statutes, section 62V.02, subdivision
8.
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new text begin (e) "Navigator" has the meaning given in Minnesota Statutes, section 62V.02, subdivision
9.
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new text begin (f) "Program" means the premium assistance program for child care workers established
under this section.
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new text begin (g) "Qualified health plan" has the meaning given in Minnesota Statutes, section 62V.02,
subdivision 11.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Eligibility. new text end

new text begin (a) To be eligible for the program, an individual must:
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new text begin (1) be employed at a child care facility;
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new text begin (2) have a projected annual household income that is less than 300 percent of federal
poverty guidelines;
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new text begin (3) apply for and accept all federal and state advance premium tax credits for which the
individual may be eligible;
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new text begin (4) be ineligible for minimum essential coverage that is affordable and provides minimum
value as defined in Code of Federal Regulations, title 26, section 1.36B-2, or the American
Rescue Plan Act of 2021, and must not be enrolled in other minimum essential health
coverage as defined by section 5000A(f) of the Internal Revenue Code;
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new text begin (5) not be eligible for MinnesotaCare;
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new text begin (6) be a Minnesota resident; and
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new text begin (7) be enrolled in a qualified health plan at the silver level of coverage that is offered
through MNsure.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Participation. new text end

new text begin (a) MNsure shall establish procedural requirements for eligibility
and participation in the program, including documentation requirements that are necessary
to administer the program and facilitate payments to health carriers.
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new text begin (b) Subject to the available appropriations, MNsure shall pay the monthly premium of
the qualified health plan that the eligible individual is enrolled in. The amount of the monthly
premium covered by MNsure under this program shall equal the amount of the monthly
premium that remains after any federal or state premium tax credits are applied. The eligible
individual shall be responsible for any cost-sharing requirements of the qualified health
plan, including any co-payments, deductibles, or coinsurance requirements of the qualified
health plan. MNsure shall make the monthly payment directly to the health carrier.
new text end

new text begin (c) MNsure may disqualify an eligible individual from the program if the individual:
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new text begin (1) no longer meets the eligibility criteria described in subdivision 2;
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new text begin (2) fails to comply with procedural or documentation requirements established by
MNsure;
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new text begin (3) fails to notify MNsure of a change in address in a timely manner;
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new text begin (4) voluntarily withdraws from the program; or
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new text begin (5) performs an act, practice, or omission that constitutes fraud that results in a health
carrier rescinding the individual's health plan.
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new text begin (d) The program must be implemented no later than November 1, 2022, and shall expire
December 31, 2023.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Enrollment information. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of human services, in
coordination with MNsure, shall provide initial program information to child care facilities,
including how employees of the child care facility can contact a navigator to assist the
employee in determining whether the employee is eligible for the program and, if eligible,
how to apply for the program through MNsure.
new text end

new text begin (b) An employee who is enrolled in a health plan that is not a qualified health plan shall
be provided the opportunity to switch to a qualified health plan that qualifies for the program.
An employee who is not enrolled in a health plan shall be provided the opportunity to enroll
in a qualified health plan if the employee meets the other eligibility requirements in
subdivision 2.
new text end

new text begin (c) Once an individual qualifies for the program, the individual shall remain eligible for
the calendar year.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin No later than March 15, 2023, MNsure shall submit a report to the
chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over
health policy and finance on the implementation of the program, including:
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new text begin (1) the number of individuals participating in the program to date; and
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new text begin (2) the actual costs of the program to date, including agency administrative costs.
new text end