1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to human services; authorizing certain 
  1.3             hospitals and clinics to bill a county of residence 
  1.4             for services provided to a resident of that county; 
  1.5             amending Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 256.969, by 
  1.6             adding a subdivision; proposing coding for new law in 
  1.7             Minnesota Statutes, chapter 256B. 
  1.8   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.9      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 256.969, is 
  1.10  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  1.11     Subd. 9c.  [COUNTY BILLING.] Hospitals that have a 
  1.12  disproportionate population adjustment greater than eight 
  1.13  percent shall be eligible for a special payment for 
  1.14  uncompensated care.  These hospitals may bill a county of 
  1.15  residence for services provided to a resident of that county 
  1.16  provided that: 
  1.17     (1) the patient is from a county other than the county in 
  1.18  which the hospital is located; and 
  1.19     (2) the hospital has made a preliminary determination at 
  1.20  the time service is delivered that the patient was indigent 
  1.21  based on current medical assistance guidelines. 
  1.22     Counties that are billed under this program must pay 
  1.23  eligible hospitals at the rates established under the medical 
  1.24  assistance program.  If the county can establish eligibility for 
  1.25  medical assistance after the service has been delivered, the 
  1.26  state shall reimburse the county for any funds paid to the 
  2.1   eligible hospital. 
  2.2      Sec. 2.  [256B.053] [COUNTY BILLING BY CLINICS.] 
  2.3      Clinics that:  (1) serve the primary health care needs of 
  2.4   low-income population groups; (2) use a sliding fee scale based 
  2.5   on ability to pay and do not limit access to care because of 
  2.6   financial limitations of the client; and (3) are nonprofit under 
  2.7   chapter 317, or are federally qualified health centers, shall be 
  2.8   eligible for a special payment for uncompensated care.  The 
  2.9   clinics may bill a county of residence for services provided to 
  2.10  a resident of that county provided that: 
  2.11     (1) the patient is from a county other than the county in 
  2.12  which the clinic is located; and 
  2.13     (2) the clinic has made a preliminary determination at the 
  2.14  time service is delivered that the patient was indigent based on 
  2.15  current medical assistance guidelines. 
  2.16     Counties that are billed under this program shall pay 
  2.17  eligible clinics at the rates established under the medical 
  2.18  assistance program.  If the county can establish eligibility for 
  2.19  medical assistance after service has been delivered, the state 
  2.20  shall reimburse the county for any funds paid to the eligible 
  2.21  clinic.