SF 2631

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 03/13/2014 09:38am

A bill for an act
relating to health insurance; requiring background studies for MNsure navigators
and in-person assisters; amending Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, section
62V.05, subdivision 4.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 62V.05, subdivision 4, is
amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Navigator; in-person assisters; call center.

(a) The board shall
establish policies and procedures for the ongoing operation of a navigator program,
in-person assister program, call center, and customer service provisions for MNsure to be
implemented beginning January 1, 2015.

(b) Until the implementation of the policies and procedures described in paragraph
(a), the following shall be in effect:

(1) the navigator program shall be met by section 256.962;

(2) entities eligible to be navigators, including entities defined in Code of Federal
Regulations, title 45, part 155.210 (c)(2), may serve as in-person assisters;

(3) the board shall establish requirements and compensation for the navigator
program and the in-person assister program by April 30, 2013. Compensation for
navigators and in-person assisters must take into account any other compensation received
by the navigator or in-person assister for conducting the same or similar services; and

(4) call center operations shall utilize existing state resources and personnel,
including referrals to counties for medical assistance.

(c) The board shall establish a toll-free number for MNsure and may hire and
contract for additional resources as deemed necessary.

(d) The navigator program and in-person assister program must meet the
requirements of section 1311(i) of the Affordable Care Act, Public Law 111-148. In
establishing training standards for the navigators and in-person assisters, the board must
ensure that all entities and individuals carrying out navigator and in-person assister
functions have training in the needs of underserved and vulnerable populations; eligibility
and enrollment rules and procedures; the range of available public health care programs
and qualified health plan options offered through MNsure; and privacy and security
standards. For calendar year 2014, the commissioner of human services shall ensure that
the navigator program under section 256.962 provides application assistance for both
qualified health plans offered through MNsure and public health care programs.

(e) The board must ensure that any information provided by navigators, in-person
assisters, the call center, or other customer assistance portals be accessible to persons
with disabilities and that information provided on public health care programs include
information on other coverage options available to persons with disabilities.

new text begin (f) MNsure shall require background studies for all individuals carrying out
navigator and in-person assister functions. MNsure may contract with the Department of
Human Services to provide the background studies in accordance with section 245C.03.
The commissioner may charge a fee to the individual or entity requesting to be a navigator
or in-person assister to recover the cost of the background studies conducted.
new text end