Minnesota Session Laws - 1999, Regular Session

                            CHAPTER 134-S.F.No. 521 
                  An act relating to insurance; requiring no-fault 
                  automobile insurance medical benefits to include sign 
                  interpreting and language translation; making 
                  technical changes; amending Minnesota Statutes 1998, 
                  section 65B.44, subdivision 2. 
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 65B.44, 
        subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 2.  [MEDICAL EXPENSE BENEFITS.] (a) Medical expense 
        benefits shall reimburse all reasonable expenses for necessary: 
           (1) medical, surgical, x-ray, optical, dental, 
        chiropractic, and rehabilitative services, including prosthetic 
        devices,; 
           (2) prescription drugs, necessary; 
           (3) ambulance and all other reasonable transportation 
        expenses incurred in traveling to receive other covered 
        medical expense benefits,; 
           (4) sign interpreting and language translation services, 
        other than such services provided by a family member of the 
        patient, related to the receipt of medical, surgical, x-ray, 
        optical, dental, chiropractic, hospital, extended care, nursing, 
        and rehabilitative services; and 
           (5) hospital, extended care, and nursing services.  
           (b) Hospital room and board benefits may be limited, except 
        for intensive care facilities, to the regular daily semiprivate 
        room rates customarily charged by the institution in which the 
        recipient of benefits is confined.  
           (c) Such benefits shall also include necessary remedial 
        treatment and services recognized and permitted under the laws 
        of this state for an injured person who relies upon spiritual 
        means through prayer alone for healing in accordance with that 
        person's religious beliefs.  
           (d) Medical expense loss includes medical expenses accrued 
        prior to the death of a person notwithstanding the fact that 
        benefits are paid or payable to the decedent's survivors.  
           (e) Medical expense benefits for rehabilitative services 
        shall be subject to the provisions of section 65B.45. 
           Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
           Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment. 
           Presented to the governor May 4, 1999 
           Signed by the governor May 7, 1999, 12:23 p.m.