as introduced - 83rd Legislature (2003 - 2004) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am
1.1 A bill for an act 1.2 relating to health; requiring coverage for or 1.3 provision of language interpreter services for 1.4 enrollees; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 1.5 Statutes, chapter 62Q. 1.6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 1.7 Section 1. [62Q.40] [LANGUAGE INTERPRETER SERVICES.] 1.8 A health plan company must cover language interpreter 1.9 services provided to a non-English-speaking enrollee in order to 1.10 facilitate the provision of health care services by a provider 1.11 or health care facility. Language interpreter services may be 1.12 provided in person or by telephone. A health plan company may 1.13 directly provide language interpreter services to a 1.14 non-English-speaking enrollee. Where a provider or health care 1.15 facility is required to provide or arrange for language 1.16 interpreter services for an enrollee, a health plan company 1.17 shall reimburse a provider or health care facility in full for 1.18 costs of language interpreter services provided to the 1.19 enrollee. A health plan company shall provide to enrollees, 1.20 upon request, the policies and procedures for addressing the 1.21 needs of non-English-speaking enrollees. 1.22 Sec. 2. [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 1.23 Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment.