HF 3819

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to human services; studying insurance coverage for long-term care
workers; requiring a mandated report; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR LONG-TERM CARE WORKERS.
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new text begin (a) By December 15, 2008, the commissioner of human services shall study and
report to the legislature under Minnesota Statutes, section 3.195, with recommendations
for a rate increase to long-term care employers dedicated to the purchase of employee
health insurance in the private market. The commissioner shall collect necessary actuarial
data, employment data, current coverage data, and other needed information.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner shall develop cost estimates for three levels of insurance
coverage for long-term care workers:
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new text begin (1) the coverage provided to state employees;
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new text begin (2) the coverage provided to MinnesotaCare enrollees; and
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new text begin (3) the benefits provided under an "average" private market insurance product, but
with a deductible limited to $100 per person.
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new text begin Premium cost sharing, waiting periods for eligibility, definitions of full- and
part-time employment, and other parameters under the three options must be identical to
those under the state employees' health plan.
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new text begin (c) For purposes of this section, a long-term care worker is a person employed by a
nursing facility, an intermediate care facility for persons with developmental disabilities,
or a service provider that:
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new text begin (1) is eligible under Laws 2007, chapter 147, article 7, section 71; and
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new text begin (2) provides long-term care services.
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new text begin The commissioner may recommend a different definition of long-term care worker if
this definition presents insurmountable implementation issues.
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new text begin (d) The recommendations must include measures to:
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new text begin (1) ensure equitable treatment between employers that currently have different levels
of expenditure for employee health insurance costs; and
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new text begin (2) enforce the requirement that the rate increase be expended for the intended
purpose.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $....... is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of human services
for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008, for the purposes of section 1.
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