2006 Minnesota Statutes

259.71 INTERSTATE ADOPTION COMPACTS; SERVICE PAYMENTS.
    Subdivision 1. Purpose. It is the purpose and policy of the state of Minnesota to:
(a) Enter into interstate agreements with agencies of other states for the protection of children
for whom the commissioner is providing adoption assistance.
(b) Provide procedures for interstate assistance payments, including medical payments, for
eligible children who are adopted interstate and for children adopted in Minnesota who move
to another state.
    Subd. 2. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the terms defined in this subdivision
shall have the meanings given them, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
(a) "Adoption assistance state" means the state that signs an adoption assistance agreement
in a particular case.
(b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of human services of the state of Minnesota.
(c) "Resident state" means the state of which the child is a resident because of the residence
of the adoptive parents.
(d) "State" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the commonwealth
of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or
a territory or possession of the United States.
    Subd. 3. Compacts authorized. The commissioner is authorized to develop, negotiate and
enter into one or more interstate compacts on behalf of this state with other states to implement
the purposes of Laws 1984, chapter 422. When entered into, the compact will have the force
and effect of law.
    Subd. 4. Contents of compacts. A compact entered into under Laws 1984, chapter 422
must include:
(a) A provision allowing all states to join the compact;
(b) A provision for withdrawal from the compact upon written notice to the parties. The
provision must require a period of one year between the date of the notice and the effective
date of the withdrawal;
(c) A requirement that the protections afforded under the compact continue in force for the
duration of the adoption assistance from a party state other than the one in which the adoptive
parents and the child are resident;
(d) A requirement that each instance of adoption assistance to which the compact applies be
covered by an adoption assistance agreement in writing between the adoptive parents and the state
child welfare agency of the state which provides the adoption assistance, and that the agreement
be expressly for the benefit of the adopted child and enforceable by the adoptive parents and the
state agency providing the adoption assistance; and
(e) Other provisions necessary and appropriate for the proper administration of the compact.
A compact entered into under Laws 1984, chapter 422 may contain provisions establishing
procedures and entitlements to medical, developmental, child care, or other social services for the
child under state law, even though the child and the adoptive parents are in a state other than the
one responsible for or providing the services or funds to pay part of or all of the costs.
    Subd. 5. Medical assistance; duties of the commissioner of human services. The
commissioner of human services shall:
(a) Issue a medical assistance identification card to any child with special needs who is
title IV-E eligible, or who is not title IV-E eligible but was determined by another state to have
a special need for medical or rehabilitative care, and who is a resident in this state and is the
subject of an adoption assistance agreement with another state when a certified copy of the
adoption assistance agreement obtained from the adoption assistance state has been filed with the
commissioner. The adoptive parents shall be required at least annually to show that the agreement
is still in force or has been renewed.
(b) Consider the holder of a medical assistance identification card under this subdivision
as any other recipient of medical assistance under chapter 256B; process and make payment on
claims for the recipient in the same manner as for other recipients of medical assistance.
(c) Provide coverage and benefits for a child who is title IV-E eligible or who is not title
IV-E eligible but was determined to have a special need for medical or rehabilitative care and
who is in another state and who is covered by an adoption assistance agreement made by the
commissioner for the coverage or benefits, if any, which is not provided by the resident state.
The adoptive parents acting for the child may submit evidence of payment for services or benefit
amounts not payable in the resident state and shall be reimbursed. However, there shall be no
reimbursement for services or benefit amounts covered under any insurance or other third party
medical contract or arrangement held by the child or the adoptive parents.
(d) Publish rules implementing this subdivision. Such rules shall include procedures to be
followed in obtaining prior approvals for services which are required for the assistance.
    Subd. 6. Penalties for false claims. Any person who submits a claim or makes a statement
for payment or reimbursement for services or benefits under subdivision 5 which the maker or
claimant knows or should know to be false, misleading, or fraudulent is guilty of perjury. That
person shall also be subject to a fine of not more than $5,000 or imprisonment for not more
than three years, or both.
    Subd. 7. Federal participation. Consistent with federal law, the commissioner shall, in
connection with the administration of Laws 1984, chapter 422 and any compact under Laws 1984,
chapter 422, include in any state plan made under the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act
of 1980, Titles IV(e) and XIX of the Social Security Act, and any other applicable federal laws,
the provision of adoption assistance and medical assistance for which the federal government
pays some or all of the cost. The commissioner shall apply for and administer all relevant aid in
accordance with state and federal law.
History: 1984 c 422 s 2; 1984 c 628 art 3 s 11; 1984 c 640 s 32; 1984 c 654 art 5 s 58;
1Sp1993 c 1 art 5 s 115; 1994 c 631 s 31; 1997 c 7 art 5 s 33