1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to insurance; health; requiring that a 
  1.3             minimum copayment be charged for certain benefits; 
  1.4             proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 
  1.5             chapter 62Q. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  [62Q.48] [COPAYMENTS REQUIRED.] 
  1.8      Subdivision 1.  [APPLICABILITY.] This section applies to: 
  1.9      (1) all health plans, as defined in section 62Q.01, 
  1.10  subdivision 3, but including clauses (6), (7), and (8) of 
  1.11  section 62A.011, subdivision 3; 
  1.12     (2) all coverage provided by the state to its employees and 
  1.13  retirees, and their dependents; 
  1.14     (3) all coverage provided by political subdivisions to 
  1.15  their employees and retirees, and their dependents; and 
  1.16     (4) self-funded plans covered by the federal Employee 
  1.17  Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), to the extent permitted 
  1.18  under federal law. 
  1.19     Subd. 2.  [REQUIREMENT.] All coverage included in 
  1.20  subdivision 1 must require that the patient pay a copayment of 
  1.21  at least $1 for each office, urgent care center, or emergency 
  1.22  room visit. 
  1.23     Subd. 3.  [EXCEPTIONS.] (a) Subdivision 2 does not apply to 
  1.24  office visits made solely for the purpose of preventive care. 
  1.25     (b) Subdivision 2 does not apply to coverage provided under 
  2.1   agreements between the issuer of the coverage and health care 
  2.2   providers that:  (1) prohibit the use of copayments by the 
  2.3   issuer of the coverage; and (2) were entered into prior to the 
  2.4   date of final enactment of this act.  This paragraph expires 
  2.5   December 31, 1998. 
  2.6      Sec. 2.  [REQUEST FOR FEDERAL STATUTORY CHANGE.] 
  2.7      The commissioner of commerce shall seek any change in 
  2.8   federal law necessary to permit enforcement of section 1, 
  2.9   subdivision 1, clause (4). 
  2.10     Sec. 3.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.11     Section 1 is effective January 1, 1997.  Section 2 is 
  2.12  effective the day following final enactment.