1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to health; requiring provider payment
1.3 	disclosure; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
1.4 	Statutes, chapter 62J.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [62J.82] PROVIDER PAYMENT DISCLOSURE.
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this
1.8 	section, the terms defined in this subdivision have the meanings
1.9 	given them.
1.10 	(b) "CPT code" means a code contained in the most current
1.11 	edition of the Physician's Current Procedural Terminology (CPT)
1.12 	manual published by the American Medical Association and
1.13 	available for purchase through the American Medical Association,
1.14 	Order Department: OP054193, P.O. Box 10950, Chicago, Illinois
1.15 	60610.
1.16 	(c) "Health care service" has the meaning given under
1.17 	section 62J.17, subdivision 2, paragraph (e).
1.18 	(d) "Person" means an individual, corporation, firm,
1.19 	partnership, or incorporated or unincorporated association or
1.20 	any other legal or commercial entity.
1.21 		Subd. 2.Provider payment disclosures. (a) A provider
1.22 	shall make available and, to the extent possible, immediately
1.23 	provide to any person who requests it, at no cost, by CPT code
1.24 	or other billing identifier as may be required to be used in
1.25 	billing for health care services and by narrative description
2.1 	the amount the provider charges as payment for health care
2.2 	services.  The narrative description must use terminology that
2.3 	is understandable to a lay person.
2.4 	(b) If a provider is unable to immediately provide the
2.5 	amount it charges as payment for health care services in
2.6 	response to a request made under this subdivision, the provider
2.7 	shall make available and provide the information to the person
2.8 	who requested it as soon as reasonably practicable, but in no
2.9 	event shall the time for disclosure be delayed by more than ten
2.10 	business days.
2.11 	(c) Prior to initiating a treatment, a provider shall
2.12 	notify a patient of any alternative, medically accepted
2.13 	treatments that the provider is aware of that are less expensive.
2.14 	(d) The information required under this subdivision shall
2.15 	be revised quarterly as necessary to reflect any changes to the
2.16 	amounts the provider charges under paragraph (a).
2.17 		Subd. 3.Remedies. A person may file an action in
2.18 	district court seeking injunctive relief and damages for
2.19 	violations of this section.  In any such action, a person may
2.20 	also recover costs and disbursements and reasonable attorney
2.21 	fees.
2.22 		Subd. 4.Grounds for disciplinary action. A violation of
2.23 	this section may be grounds for disciplinary or regulatory
2.24 	action against a provider by the appropriate licensing board or
2.25 	agency.
2.26 		Subd. 5.Authority of attorney general. The attorney
2.27 	general may investigate a violation of this section under
2.28 	section 8.31.  The attorney general may file an action for a
2.29 	violation of this section according to section 8.31 or pursue
2.30 	any other remedies available to the attorney general.