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Chapter 256L

Section 256L.03

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256L.03 COVERED HEALTH SERVICES.

Subdivision 1.Covered health services.

(a) "Covered health services" means the health services reimbursed under chapter 256B, with the exception of inpatient hospital services, special education services, private duty nursing services, adult dental care services other than services covered under section 256B.0625, subdivision 9, orthodontic services, nonemergency medical transportation services, personal care assistance and case management services, nursing home or intermediate care facilities services, inpatient mental health services, and chemical dependency services.

(b) No public funds shall be used for coverage of abortion under MinnesotaCare except where the life of the female would be endangered or substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function would result if the fetus were carried to term; or where the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.

(c) Covered health services shall be expanded as provided in this section.

[See Note.]

Subd. 1a.Pregnant women and children; MinnesotaCare health care reform waiver.

Beginning January 1, 1999, children and pregnant women are eligible for coverage of all services that are eligible for reimbursement under the medical assistance program according to chapter 256B, except that abortion services under MinnesotaCare shall be limited as provided under subdivision 1. Pregnant women and children are exempt from the provisions of subdivision 5, regarding co-payments. Pregnant women and children who are lawfully residing in the United States but who are not "qualified noncitizens" under title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Public Law 104-193, Statutes at Large, volume 110, page 2105, are eligible for coverage of all services provided under the medical assistance program according to chapter 256B.

[See Note.]

Subd. 1b.Pregnant women; eligibility for full medical assistance services.

A pregnant woman enrolled in MinnesotaCare is eligible for coverage of all services provided under the medical assistance program according to chapter 256B retroactive to the date of conception. Co-payments totaling $30 or more, paid after the date of conception, shall be refunded.

Subd. 2.Alcohol and drug dependency.

Beginning July 1, 1993, covered health services shall include individual outpatient treatment of alcohol or drug dependency by a qualified health professional or outpatient program.

Persons who may need chemical dependency services under the provisions of this chapter shall be assessed by a local agency as defined under section 254B.01, and under the assessment provisions of section 254A.03, subdivision 3. A local agency or managed care plan under contract with the Department of Human Services must place a person in need of chemical dependency services as provided in Minnesota Rules, parts 9530.6600 to 9530.6660. Persons who are recipients of medical benefits under the provisions of this chapter and who are financially eligible for consolidated chemical dependency treatment fund services provided under the provisions of chapter 254B shall receive chemical dependency treatment services under the provisions of chapter 254B only if:

(1) they have exhausted the chemical dependency benefits offered under this chapter; or

(2) an assessment indicates that they need a level of care not provided under the provisions of this chapter.

Recipients of covered health services under the children's health plan, as provided in Minnesota Statutes 1990, section 256.936, and as amended by Laws 1991, chapter 292, article 4, section 17, and recipients of covered health services enrolled in the children's health plan or the MinnesotaCare program after October 1, 1992, pursuant to Laws 1992, chapter 549, article 4, sections 5 and 17, are eligible to receive alcohol and drug dependency benefits under this subdivision.

Subd. 3.Inpatient hospital services.

(a) Covered health services shall include inpatient hospital services, including inpatient hospital mental health services and inpatient hospital and residential chemical dependency treatment, subject to those limitations necessary to coordinate the provision of these services with eligibility under the medical assistance spenddown. The inpatient hospital benefit for adult enrollees who qualify under section 256L.04, subdivision 7, or who qualify under section 256L.04, subdivisions 1 and 2, with family gross income that exceeds 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines or 215 percent of the federal poverty guidelines on or after July 1, 2009, and who are not pregnant, is subject to an annual limit of $10,000.

(b) Admissions for inpatient hospital services paid for under section 256L.11, subdivision 3, must be certified as medically necessary in accordance with Minnesota Rules, parts 9505.0500 to 9505.0540, except as provided in clauses (1) and (2):

(1) all admissions must be certified, except those authorized under rules established under section 254A.03, subdivision 3, or approved under Medicare; and

(2) payment under section 256L.11, subdivision 3, shall be reduced by five percent for admissions for which certification is requested more than 30 days after the day of admission. The hospital may not seek payment from the enrollee for the amount of the payment reduction under this clause.

[See Note.]

Subd. 3a.Interpreter services.

Covered services include sign and spoken language interpreter services that assist an enrollee in obtaining covered health care services.

Subd. 3b.Chiropractic services.

MinnesotaCare covers the following chiropractic services: medically necessary exams, manual manipulation of the spine, and x-rays.

Subd. 4.Coordination with medical assistance.

The commissioner shall coordinate the provision of hospital inpatient services under the MinnesotaCare program with enrollee eligibility under the medical assistance spenddown.

Subd. 4a.Loss ratio.

Health coverage provided through the MinnesotaCare program must have a medical loss ratio of at least 85 percent, as defined using the loss ratio methodology described in section 1001 of the Affordable Care Act.

[See Note.]

Subd. 5.Cost-sharing.

(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c), the MinnesotaCare benefit plan shall include the following cost-sharing requirements for all enrollees:

(1) ten percent of the paid charges for inpatient hospital services for adult enrollees, subject to an annual inpatient out-of-pocket maximum of $1,000 per individual;

(2) $3 per prescription for adult enrollees;

(3) $25 for eyeglasses for adult enrollees;

(4) $3 per nonpreventive visit. For purposes of this subdivision, a "visit" means an episode of service which is required because of a recipient's symptoms, diagnosis, or established illness, and which is delivered in an ambulatory setting by a physician or physician ancillary, chiropractor, podiatrist, nurse midwife, advanced practice nurse, audiologist, optician, or optometrist;

(5) $6 for nonemergency visits to a hospital-based emergency room for services provided through December 31, 2010, and $3.50 effective January 1, 2011; and

(6) a family deductible equal to the maximum amount allowed under Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, part 447.54.

(b) Paragraph (a), clause (1), does not apply to parents and relative caretakers of children under the age of 21.

(c) Paragraph (a) does not apply to pregnant women and children under the age of 21.

(d) Paragraph (a), clause (4), does not apply to mental health services.

(e) Adult enrollees with family gross income that exceeds 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines or 215 percent of the federal poverty guidelines on or after July 1, 2009, and who are not pregnant shall be financially responsible for the coinsurance amount, if applicable, and amounts which exceed the $10,000 inpatient hospital benefit limit.

(f) When a MinnesotaCare enrollee becomes a member of a prepaid health plan, or changes from one prepaid health plan to another during a calendar year, any charges submitted towards the $10,000 annual inpatient benefit limit, and any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the enrollee for inpatient services, that were submitted or incurred prior to enrollment, or prior to the change in health plans, shall be disregarded.

(g) MinnesotaCare reimbursements to fee-for-service providers and payments to managed care plans or county-based purchasing plans shall not be increased as a result of the reduction of the co-payments in paragraph (a), clause (5), effective January 1, 2011.

(h) The commissioner, through the contracting process under section 256L.12, may allow managed care plans and county-based purchasing plans to waive the family deductible under paragraph (a), clause (6). The value of the family deductible shall not be included in the capitation payment to managed care plans and county-based purchasing plans. Managed care plans and county-based purchasing plans shall certify annually to the commissioner the dollar value of the family deductible.

[See Note.]

Subd. 5a.

[Repealed, 2002 c 220 art 15 s 27]

Subd. 6.Lien.

When the state agency provides, pays for, or becomes liable for covered health services, the agency shall have a lien for the cost of the covered health services upon any and all causes of action accruing to the enrollee, or to the enrollee's legal representatives, as a result of the occurrence that necessitated the payment for the covered health services. All liens under this section shall be subject to the provisions of section 256.015. For purposes of this subdivision, "state agency" includes participating entities, under contract with the commissioner according to section 256L.121.

[See Note.]

NOTE: The amendment to subdivision 1 by Laws 2013, chapter 108, article 1, section 36, is effective January 1, 2014, or upon federal approval, whichever is later. Laws 2013, chapter 108, article 1, section 36, the effective date. When effective, the subdivision will read:

"Subdivision 1.Covered health services.

(a) "Covered health services" means the health services reimbursed under chapter 256B, with the exception of special education services, private duty nursing services, adult dental care services other than services covered under section 256B.0625, subdivision 9, orthodontic services, nonemergency medical transportation services, personal care assistance and case management services, and nursing home or intermediate care facilities services.

(b) No public funds shall be used for coverage of abortion under MinnesotaCare except where the life of the female would be endangered or substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function would result if the fetus were carried to term; or where the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.

(c) Covered health services shall be expanded as provided in this section."

NOTE: The amendment to subdivision 1a by Laws 2013, chapter 108, article 1, section 37, is effective January 1, 2014, or upon federal approval, whichever is later. Laws 2013, chapter 108, article 1, section 37, the effective date. When effective, the subdivision will read:

"Subd. 1a. Children; MinnesotaCare health care reform waiver.

Children are eligible for coverage of all services that are eligible for reimbursement under the medical assistance program according to chapter 256B, except that abortion services under MinnesotaCare shall be limited as provided under subdivision 1. Children are exempt from the provisions of subdivision 5, regarding co-payments. Children who are lawfully residing in the United States but who are not "qualified noncitizens" under title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Public Law 104-193, Statutes at Large, volume 110, page 2105, are eligible for coverage of all services provided under the medical assistance program according to chapter 256B."

NOTE: The amendment to subdivision 3 by Laws 2013, chapter 108, article 1, section 38, is effective January 1, 2014, or upon federal approval, whichever is later. Laws 2013, chapter 108, article 1, section 38, the effective date. When effective, the subdivision will read:

"Subd. 3.Inpatient hospital services.

(a) Covered health services shall include inpatient hospital services, including inpatient hospital mental health services and inpatient hospital and residential chemical dependency treatment, subject to those limitations necessary to coordinate the provision of these services with eligibility under the medical assistance spenddown.

(b) Admissions for inpatient hospital services paid for under section 256L.11, subdivision 3, must be certified as medically necessary in accordance with Minnesota Rules, parts 9505.0500 to 9505.0540, except as provided in clauses (1) and (2):

(1) all admissions must be certified, except those authorized under rules established under section 254A.03, subdivision 3, or approved under Medicare; and

(2) payment under section 256L.11, subdivision 3, shall be reduced by five percent for admissions for which certification is requested more than 30 days after the day of admission. The hospital may not seek payment from the enrollee for the amount of the payment reduction under this clause."

NOTE: Subdivision 4a, as added by Laws 2013, chapter 108, article 1, section 39, is effective January 1, 2015. Laws 2013, chapter 108, article 1, section 39, the effective date.

NOTE: The amendment to subdivision 5 by Laws 2013, chapter 108, article 1, section 40, is effective January 1, 2014, or upon federal approval, whichever is later. Laws 2013, chapter 108, article 1, section 40, the effective date. When effective, the subdivision will read:

"Subd. 5.Cost-sharing.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, the MinnesotaCare benefit plan shall include the following cost-sharing requirements for all enrollees:

(1) $3 per prescription for adult enrollees;

(2) $25 for eyeglasses for adult enrollees;

(3) $3 per nonpreventive visit. For purposes of this subdivision, a "visit" means an episode of service which is required because of a recipient's symptoms, diagnosis, or established illness, and which is delivered in an ambulatory setting by a physician or physician ancillary, chiropractor, podiatrist, nurse midwife, advanced practice nurse, audiologist, optician, or optometrist;

(4) $6 for nonemergency visits to a hospital-based emergency room for services provided through December 31, 2010, and $3.50 effective January 1, 2011; and

(5) a family deductible equal to the maximum amount allowed under Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, part 447.54.

(b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to children under the age of 21.

(c) Paragraph (a), clause (3), does not apply to mental health services.

(d) MinnesotaCare reimbursements to fee-for-service providers and payments to managed care plans or county-based purchasing plans shall not be increased as a result of the reduction of the co-payments in paragraph (a), clause (4), effective January 1, 2011.

(e) The commissioner, through the contracting process under section 256L.12, may allow managed care plans and county-based purchasing plans to waive the family deductible under paragraph (a), clause (5). The value of the family deductible shall not be included in the capitation payment to managed care plans and county-based purchasing plans. Managed care plans and county-based purchasing plans shall certify annually to the commissioner the dollar value of the family deductible."

NOTE: The amendment to subdivision 6 by Laws 2013, chapter 108, article 1, section 41, is effective January 1, 2015. Laws 2013, chapter 108, article 1, section 41, the effective date.

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Revisor of Statutes