1997 Minnesota Statutes

     256.9772 Health care consumer assistance grant program. 

    The board on aging shall award grants to area agencies on 
 aging to develop projects to provide information about health 
 coverage and to provide assistance to individuals in obtaining 
 public and private health care benefits.  Projects must: 

    (1) train and support staff and volunteers to work in 
 partnership to provide one-on-one information and assistance 
 services; 

    (2) provide individual consumers with assistance in 
 understanding the terms of a certificate, contract, or policy of 
 health coverage, including, but not limited to, terms relating 
 to covered services, limitations on services, limitations on 
 access to providers, and enrollee complaint and appeal 
 procedures; 

    (3) assist individuals to understand medical bills and to 
 process health care claims and appeals to obtain health care 
 benefits; 

    (4) coordinate with existing health insurance counseling 
 programs serving Medicare eligible individuals or establish 
 programs to serve all consumers; 

    (5) target those individuals determined to be in greatest 
 social and economic need for counseling services; and 

    (6) operate according to United States Code, title 42, 
 section 1395b-4, if serving Medicare beneficiaries. 

    HIST: 1997 c 203 art 9 s 8