SF 1617

as introduced - 80th Legislature (1997 - 1998) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to health; clarifying payment procedures 
  1.3             under medical assistance for wheelchair repairs and 
  1.4             nonstandard wheelchairs; modifying medical assistance 
  1.5             reimbursement for augmentative and alternative 
  1.6             communication systems; establishing an augmentative 
  1.7             and alternative communication system distribution 
  1.8             service; amending Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 
  1.9             256B.0625, subdivision 31, and by adding a subdivision.
  1.10  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.11     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 256B.0625, 
  1.12  subdivision 31, is amended to read: 
  1.13     Subd. 31.  [MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT.] (a) Medical 
  1.14  assistance covers medical supplies and equipment.  
  1.15     (b) Separate payment outside of the facility's payment rate 
  1.16  shall be made for wheelchairs and wheelchair accessories for 
  1.17  recipients who are residents of intermediate care facilities for 
  1.18  the mentally retarded.  Reimbursement for wheelchairs and 
  1.19  wheelchair accessories for ICF/MR recipients shall be subject to 
  1.20  the same conditions and limitations as coverage for recipients 
  1.21  who do not reside in institutions.  A wheelchair purchased 
  1.22  outside of the facility's payment rate is the property of the 
  1.23  recipient. 
  1.24     (c) Separate payment outside of the facility's payment rate 
  1.25  shall be made for repairs made to wheelchairs owned by 
  1.26  recipients of a long-term care facility. 
  1.27     (d) Separate payment outside of the facility's payment rate 
  2.1   shall be made for wheelchairs for recipients who are residents 
  2.2   of a long-term care facility and for whom a standard wheelchair 
  2.3   is not appropriate.  A standard wheelchair is a manual 
  2.4   wheelchair which is 16 to 20 inches wide and 18 inches deep with 
  2.5   sling seat and back upholstery and a seat height of 19-1/2 
  2.6   inches.  A standard wheelchair is not appropriate for: 
  2.7      (1) recipients who cannot independently operate a standard 
  2.8   wheelchair, but who are capable of safely and independently 
  2.9   operating a power or other nonstandard wheelchair; 
  2.10     (2) recipients who cannot properly fit in a standard 
  2.11  wheelchair; 
  2.12     (3) recipients who require a wheelchair to be permanently 
  2.13  modified by the addition of an item to accommodate their medical 
  2.14  or health needs; or 
  2.15     (4) recipients who have seating or positioning needs that 
  2.16  cannot be accommodated in a standard wheelchair. 
  2.17     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 256B.0625, is 
  2.18  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  2.19     Subd. 31a.  [AUGMENTATIVE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS.] (a) 
  2.20  Medical assistance covers augmentative and alternative 
  2.21  communication systems consisting of electronic or nonelectronic 
  2.22  devices and the related components necessary to enable a person 
  2.23  with severe expressive communication limitations to produce or 
  2.24  transmit messages or symbols in a manner that compensates for 
  2.25  that disability. 
  2.26     (b) By January 1, 1998, the commissioner, in cooperation 
  2.27  with the commissioner of administration, shall establish an 
  2.28  augmentative and alternative communication system distribution 
  2.29  service within a state agency or by contract with a qualified 
  2.30  private entity.  The purpose of this service is to facilitate 
  2.31  ready availability of the augmentative and alternative 
  2.32  communication systems needed to meet the needs of persons with 
  2.33  severe expressive communication limitations in an efficient and 
  2.34  cost-effective manner.  This service shall: 
  2.35     (1) coordinate purchase and rental of augmentative and 
  2.36  alternative communication systems; 
  3.1      (2) negotiate agreements, with manufacturers and vendors of 
  3.2   components of these systems, that provide for a discount of at 
  3.3   least ten percent from the manufacturer's suggested retail price 
  3.4   for the base component of the system, for warranty coverage, and 
  3.5   for repair service; 
  3.6      (3) when efficient and cost effective, maintain and 
  3.7   refurbish, if needed, an inventory of components of augmentative 
  3.8   and alternative communication systems for short or long-term 
  3.9   loans to recipients; 
  3.10     (4) facilitate training sessions for service providers, 
  3.11  consumers, and families on augmentative and alternative 
  3.12  communication systems; and 
  3.13     (5) develop a recycling program for used augmentative and 
  3.14  alternative communications systems to be reissued when 
  3.15  appropriate and used for trials and short-term use. 
  3.16     The availability of components of augmentative and 
  3.17  alternative communication systems through this service is 
  3.18  subject to prior authorization requirements established under 
  3.19  subdivision 25. 
  3.20     (c) Augmentative communication devices that are prior 
  3.21  authorized by pass through vendors during the period from 
  3.22  January 1, 1997, until the augmentative and alternative 
  3.23  communication system distribution service is operational, and 
  3.24  which have not been delivered, shall be paid under the medical 
  3.25  assistance program at the actual price charged the pass through 
  3.26  vendor for the device, except that payment shall not exceed the 
  3.27  suggested retail price on March 1, 1997, plus 20 percent to 
  3.28  cover administrative costs of prior authorization and billing 
  3.29  and shipping charges.