This chapter may be cited as the "Minnesota Community Integrated Service Network Act."
"Commissioner" means the commissioner of health or the commissioner's designated representative.
(a) "Community integrated service network" or "community network" means a formal arrangement licensed by the commissioner under section 62N.25 for providing prepaid health services to enrolled populations of 50,000 or fewer enrollees, including enrollees who are residents of other states.
(b) [Expired]
"Enrollee" means an individual, including a member of a group, to whom a network is obligated to provide health services under this chapter.
"Price" means the actual amount of money paid, after discounts or other adjustments, by the person or organization paying money to buy health care coverage and health care services. "Price" does not mean the cost or costs incurred by a network or other entity to provide health care services to individuals.
1993 c 345 art 1 s 3; 1994 c 625 art 1 s 3,4; art 8 s 34; 1995 c 234 art 1 s 10,11
Before selling any coverage or enrollment in a community integrated service network, a person selling the coverage or enrollment shall disclose in writing to the prospective purchaser the amount of any commission or other compensation the person will receive as a direct result of the sale. The disclosure may be expressed in dollars or as a percentage of the premium. The amount disclosed need not include any anticipated renewal commissions.
(a) The commissioner shall provide technical assistance to parties interested in establishing or operating a community integrated service network. This shall be known as the community integrated service network technical assistance program (CISNTAP).
The technical assistance program shall offer seminars on the establishment and operation of community integrated service networks in all regions of Minnesota. The commissioner shall advertise these seminars in local and regional newspapers, and attendance at these seminars shall be free.
The commissioner shall write a guide to establishing and operating a community integrated service network. The guide must provide basic instructions for parties wishing to establish a community integrated service network. The guide must be provided free of charge to interested parties. The commissioner shall update this guide when appropriate.
The commissioner shall establish a toll-free telephone line that interested parties may call to obtain assistance in establishing or operating a community integrated service network.
(b) The commissioner shall grant loans for organizational and start-up expenses to entities forming community integrated service networks, or to networks less than one year old, to the extent of any appropriation for that purpose. The commissioner shall allocate the available funds among applicants based upon the following criteria, as evaluated by the commissioner within the commissioner's discretion:
(1) the applicant's need for the loan;
(2) the likelihood that the loan will foster the formation or growth of a network; and
(3) the likelihood of repayment.
The commissioner shall determine any necessary application deadlines and forms.
Beginning July 1, 1994, the commissioner shall accept applications for licensure as a community integrated service network under this section. Licensed community integrated service networks may begin providing health coverage to enrollees no earlier than January 1, 1995, and may begin marketing coverage to prospective enrollees upon licensure.
To be licensed and to operate as a community integrated service network, an applicant must satisfy the requirements of chapter 62D, and all other legal requirements that apply to entities licensed under chapter 62D, except as exempted or modified in this section. Community networks must, as a condition of licensure, comply with section 62D.04, subdivision 5. A community integrated service network that phases in its net worth over a three-year period is not required to respond to requests for proposals under section 62D.04, subdivision 5, during the first 12 months of licensure. These community networks are not prohibited from responding to requests for proposals, however, if they choose to do so during that time period. After the initial 12 months of licensure, these community networks are required to respond to the requests for proposals as required under section 62D.04, subdivision 5.
Community integrated service networks are regulated and licensed by the commissioner under the same authority that applies to entities licensed under chapter 62D, except as exempted or modified under this section. All statutes or rules that apply to health maintenance organizations apply to community networks, unless otherwise specified. A cooperative organized under chapter 308A may establish a community integrated service network.
In addition to the requirements of section 62D.06, at least 51 percent of the members of the governing body of the community integrated service network must be residents of the community integrated service network's service area. Service area, for purposes of this subdivision, may include contiguous geographic areas outside the state of Minnesota.
Community integrated service networks must offer the health maintenance organization benefit set, as defined in chapter 62D, and other laws applicable to entities regulated under chapter 62D. Community networks and chemical dependency facilities under contract with a community network shall use the assessment criteria in section 245G.05 when assessing enrollees for chemical dependency treatment.
A community integrated service network is exempt from the deposit, reserve, and solvency requirements specified in sections 62D.041, 62D.042, and 62D.044 and shall comply instead with sections 62N.27 to 62N.32. To the extent that there are analogous definitions or procedures in chapter 62D or in rules promulgated thereunder, the commissioner shall follow those existing provisions rather than adopting a contrary approach or interpretation.
Community integrated service networks are exempt from the following requirements applicable to health maintenance organizations:
(1) conducting focused studies under Minnesota Rules, part 4685.1125;
(2) preparing and filing, as a condition of licensure, a written quality assurance plan, and annually filing such a plan and a work plan, under Minnesota Rules, parts 4685.1110 and 4685.1130;
(3) maintaining statistics under Minnesota Rules, part 4685.1200;
(4) filing provider contract forms under sections 62D.03, subdivision 4, and 62D.08, subdivision 1; and
(5) preparing and filing, as a condition of licensure, a marketing plan, and annually filing a marketing plan, under sections 62D.03, subdivision 4, paragraph (l), and 62D.08, subdivision 1.
The provisions of section 62D.123 are implied in every provider contract or agreement between a community integrated service network and a provider, regardless of whether those provisions are expressly included in the contract. No participating provider, agent, trustee, or assignee of a participating provider has or may maintain any cause of action against a subscriber or enrollee to collect sums owed by the community network.
1994 c 625 art 1 s 5; 1995 c 234 art 1 s 27; 1997 c 187 art 1 s 6; 1997 c 203 art 4 s 2; 1997 c 225 art 2 s 34; 2001 c 170 s 2; 2004 c 285 art 3 s 7; 2016 c 158 art 1 s 214; 2023 c 50 art 2 s 1
The commissioner of health shall establish, or assist in establishing, a shared services cooperative organized under chapter 308A to make available administrative and legal services, technical assistance, provider contracting and billing services, and other services to those community integrated service networks that choose to participate in the cooperative. The commissioner shall provide, to the extent funds are appropriated, start-up loans sufficient to maintain the shared services cooperative until its operations can be maintained by fees and contributions. The cooperative must not be staffed, administered, or supervised by the commissioner of health. The cooperative shall make use of existing resources that are already available in the community, to the extent possible.
For purposes of sections 62N.27 to 62N.32, the terms defined in this section have the meanings given. Other terms used in those sections have the meanings given in sections 62D.041, 62D.042, and 62D.044.
"Net worth" means admitted assets as defined in subdivision 3, minus liabilities. Liabilities do not include those obligations that are subordinated in the same manner as preferred ownership claims under section 60B.44, subdivision 10. For purposes of this subdivision, preferred ownership claims under section 60B.44, subdivision 10, include promissory notes subordinated to all other liabilities of the community integrated service network.
"Admitted assets" means admitted assets as defined in section 62D.044, except that real estate investments allowed by section 62D.045 are not admitted assets. Admitted assets include the deposit required under section 62N.32.
"Accredited capitated provider" means a health care providing entity that:
(1) receives capitated payments from a community network under a contract to provide health services to the network's enrollees. For purposes of this section, a health care providing entity is "capitated" when its compensation arrangement with a network involves the provider's acceptance of material financial risk for the delivery of a predetermined set of services for a specified period of time;
(2) is licensed to provide and provides the contracted services, either directly or through an affiliate. For purposes of this section, an "affiliate" is any person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the health care providing entity, and "control" exists when any person, directly or indirectly, owns, controls, or holds the power to vote or holds proxies representing no less than 80 percent of the voting securities or governance rights of any other person;
(3) agrees to serve as an accredited capitated provider of a community network or for the purpose of reducing the network's net worth and deposit requirements under section 62N.28; and
(4) is approved by the commissioner as an accredited capitated provider for a community network in accordance with section 62N.31.
"Percentage of risk ceded" means the ratio, expressed as a percentage, between capitated payments made or, in the case of a new entity, expected to be made by a community network to all accredited capitated providers during any contract year and the total premium revenue, adjusted to eliminate expected administrative costs, received for the same time period by the community network.
"Provider amount at risk" means a dollar amount certified by a qualified actuary to represent the expected direct costs to an accredited capitated provider for providing the contracted, covered health care services to the enrollees of the network to which it is accredited for a period of 120 days.
Except as otherwise permitted by this chapter, each community network must maintain a minimum net worth equal to the greater of:
(1) $1,000,000;
(2) two percent of the first $150,000,000 of annual premium revenue plus one percent of annual premium revenue in excess of $150,000,000;
(3) eight percent of the annual health services costs, except those paid on a capitated or managed hospital payment basis, plus four percent of the annual capitation and managed hospital payment costs; or
(4) four months uncovered health services costs.
For purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given:
(1) "capitated basis" means fixed per member per month payment or percentage of premium paid to a provider that assumes the full risk of the cost of contracted services without regard to the type, value, or frequency of services provided. For purposes of this definition, capitated basis includes the cost associated with operating staff model facilities;
(2) "managed hospital payment basis" means agreements in which the financial risk is primarily related to the degree of utilization rather than to the cost of services; and
(3) "uncovered health services costs" means the cost to the community network of health services covered by the community network for which the enrollee would also be liable in the event of the community network's insolvency, and that are not guaranteed, insured, or assumed by a person other than the community network.
A community network may use the subtraction for premiums paid for insurance permitted under section 62D.042, subdivision 4.
A community network may choose to comply with the net worth requirement on a phase-in basis according to the following schedule:
(1) 50 percent of the amount required under subdivisions 1 to 3 at the time that the community network begins enrolling enrollees;
(2) 75 percent of the amount required under subdivisions 1 to 3 at the end of the first full calendar year of operation;
(3) 87.5 percent of the amount required under subdivisions 1 to 3 at the end of the second full calendar year of operation; and
(4) 100 percent of the amount required under subdivisions 1 to 3 at the end of the third full calendar year of operation.
A community network shall not maintain net worth that exceeds three times the amount required of the community network under subdivision 1. Subdivision 4 is not relevant for purposes of this subdivision.
If a community network has contracts with accredited capitated providers, and only for so long as those contracts or successor contracts remain in force, the net worth requirement of subdivision 1 shall be reduced by the percentage of risk ceded, but in no event shall the net worth requirements be reduced by this subdivision to less than $1,000,000. The phase-in requirements of subdivision 4 shall not be affected by this reduction.
(a) A community network may satisfy its net worth and deposit requirements, in whole or in part, through the use of one or more guaranteeing organizations, with the approval of the commissioner, under the conditions permitted in this section. If the guaranteeing organization is used only to satisfy the deposit requirement, the requirements of this section do not apply to the guaranteeing organization.
(b) For purposes of this section, a "guaranteeing organization" means an organization that has agreed to assume the responsibility for the obligation of the community network's net worth requirement.
(c) Governmental entities, such as counties, may serve as guaranteeing organizations subject to the requirements of this section.
Upon an order of rehabilitation or liquidation, a guaranteeing organization shall transfer funds to the commissioner in the amount necessary to satisfy the net worth requirement.
(a) A community network's net worth requirement may be guaranteed provided that the guaranteeing organization:
(1) transfers into a restricted asset account cash or securities permitted by section 61A.28, subdivisions 2 and 6, in an amount necessary to satisfy the net worth requirement. Restricted asset accounts shall be considered admitted assets for the purpose of determining whether a guaranteeing organization is maintaining sufficient net worth. Permitted securities shall not be transferred to the restricted asset account in excess of the limits applied to the community network, unless approved by the commissioner in advance;
(2) designates the restricted asset account specifically for the purpose of funding the community network's net worth requirement;
(3) maintains positive working capital subsequent to establishing the restricted asset account, if applicable;
(4) maintains net worth, retained earnings, or surplus in an amount in excess of the amount of the restricted asset account, if applicable, and allows the guaranteeing organization:
(i) to remain a solvent business organization, which shall be evaluated on the basis of the guaranteeing organization's continued ability to meet its maturing obligations without selling substantially all its operating assets and paying debts when due; and
(ii) to be in compliance with any state or federal statutory net worth, surplus, or reserve requirements applicable to that organization or lesser requirements agreed to by the commissioner; and
(5) fulfills requirements of clauses (1) to (4) by April 1 of each year.
(b) The commissioner may require the guaranteeing organization to complete the requirements of paragraph (a) more frequently if the amount necessary to satisfy the net worth requirement increases during the year.
When a guaranteeing organization is a governmental entity, subdivision 3 is not applicable. The commissioner may consider factors which provide evidence that the governmental entity is a financially reliable guaranteeing organization. Similarly, when a guaranteeing organization is a Minnesota-licensed health maintenance organization, health service plan corporation, or insurer, subdivision 3, paragraph (a), clauses (1) and (2), are not applicable.
The amount necessary for a guaranteeing organization to satisfy the community network's net worth requirement is the lesser of:
(1) an amount needed to bring the community network's net worth to the amount required by section 62N.28; or
(2) an amount agreed to by the guaranteeing organization.
(a) If a guaranteeing organization guarantees one or more community networks, the guaranteeing organization may calculate the amount necessary to satisfy the community networks' net worth requirements on a consolidated basis.
(b) Liabilities of the community network to the guaranteeing organization must be subordinated in the same manner as preferred ownership claims under section 60B.44, subdivision 10.
A written agreement between the guaranteeing organization and the community network must include the commissioner as a party and include the following provisions:
(1) any or all of the funds needed to satisfy the community network's net worth requirement shall be transferred, unconditionally and upon demand, according to subdivision 2;
(2) the arrangement shall not terminate for any reason without the commissioner being notified of the termination at least nine months in advance. The arrangement may terminate earlier if net worth requirements will be satisfied under other arrangements, as approved by the commissioner;
(3) the guaranteeing organization shall pay or reimburse the commissioner for all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney fees and costs, incurred by the commissioner in connection with the protection, defense, or enforcement of the guarantee;
(4) the guaranteeing organization shall waive all defenses and claims it may have or the community network may have pertaining to the guarantee including, but not limited to, waiver, release, res judicata, statute of frauds, lack of authority, usury, illegality;
(5) the guaranteeing organization waives present demand for payment, notice of dishonor or nonpayment and protest, and the commissioner shall not be required to first resort for payment to other sources or other means before enforcing the guarantee;
(6) the guarantee may not be waived, modified, amended, terminated, released, or otherwise changed except as provided by the guarantee agreement, and as provided by applicable statutes;
(7) the guaranteeing organization waives its rights under the Federal Bankruptcy Code, United States Code, title 11, section 303, to initiate involuntary proceedings against the community network and agrees to submit to the jurisdiction of the commissioner and Minnesota state courts in any rehabilitation or liquidation of the community network;
(8) the guarantee shall be governed by and construed and enforced according to the laws of the state of Minnesota; and
(9) the guarantee must be approved by the commissioner.
The community network shall submit to the commissioner the guaranteeing organization's audited financial statements annually by April 1 or at a different date if agreed to by the commissioner. The community network shall also provide other relevant financial information regarding a guaranteeing organization as may be requested by the commissioner.
No provider may be compelled to serve as a guaranteeing organization.
Any or all of the funds in excess of the amounts needed to satisfy the community network's obligations as of the date of an order of liquidation or rehabilitation shall be returned to the guaranteeing organization in the same manner as preferred ownership claims under section 60B.44, subdivision 10.
Each health care providing entity seeking initial accreditation as an accredited capitated provider shall submit to the commissioner of health sufficient information to establish that the applicant has operational capacity, facilities, personnel, and financial capability to provide the contracted covered services to the enrollees of the network for which it seeks accreditation (1) on an ongoing basis; and (2) for a period of 120 days following the insolvency of the network without receiving payment from the network. Accreditation shall continue until abandoned by the accredited capitated provider or revoked by the commissioner in accordance with subdivision 4. The applicant may establish financial capability by demonstrating that the provider amount at risk can be covered by or through any of allocated or restricted funds, a letter of credit, the taxing authority of the applicant or governmental sponsor of the applicant, an unrestricted fund balance at least two times the provider amount at risk, reinsurance, either purchased directly by the applicant or by the community network to which it will be accredited, or any other method accepted by the commissioner. Accreditation of a health care providing entity shall not in itself limit the right of the accredited capitated provider to seek payment of unpaid capitated amounts from a community network, whether the community network is solvent or insolvent; provided that, if the community network is subject to any liquidation, rehabilitation, or conservation proceedings, the accredited capitated provider shall have the status accorded creditors under section 60B.44, subdivision 10.
Each accredited capitated provider shall submit to the commissioner annually, no later than April 15, the following information for each network to which it is accredited: the provider amount at risk for that year, the number of enrollees for the network, both for the prior year and estimated for the current year, any material change in the provider's operational or financial capacity since its last report, and any other information reasonably requested by the commissioner.
Each accredited capitated provider shall provide the commissioner with 60 days' advance written notice of termination of the accredited capitated provider relationship with a network.
The commissioner may revoke the accreditation of an accredited capitated provider if the accredited capitated provider's ongoing operational or financial capabilities fail to meet the requirements of this section. The revocation shall be handled in the same fashion as placing a health maintenance organization under administrative supervision.
A community network must satisfy the deposit requirement provided in section 62D.041. The deposit counts as an admitted asset and as part of the required net worth. The deposit requirement cannot be reduced by the alternative means that may be used to reduce the net worth requirement, other than through the use of a guaranteeing organization.
In the event of a community network insolvency, the commissioner shall determine whether one or more community networks or health plan companies are willing and able to provide replacement coverage to all of the failed community network's enrollees, and if so, the commissioner shall facilitate the provision of the replacement coverage. If such replacement coverage is not available, the commissioner shall randomly assign enrollees of the insolvent community network to other community networks and health plan companies in the service area, in proportion to their market share, for the remaining terms of the enrollees' contracts with the insolvent network. The other community networks and health plan companies must accept the allocated enrollees under their policy or contract most similar to the enrollees' contracts with the insolvent community network. The allocation must keep groups together. Enrollees with special continuity of care needs may, in the commissioner's discretion, be given a choice of replacement coverage rather than random assignment. Individuals and groups that are assigned randomly may choose a different community network or health plan company when their contracts expire, on the same basis as any other individual or group. The replacement health plan company must comply with any guaranteed renewal or other renewal provisions of the prior coverage, including but not limited to, provisions regarding preexisting conditions and health conditions that developed during prior coverage.
To the extent feasible and appropriate, community networks that also operate under the health maintenance organization or similar prepaid health care law of another state must be licensed and regulated by this state in a manner that avoids unnecessary duplication and expense for the community network. The commissioner shall communicate with regulatory authorities in neighboring states to explore the feasibility of cooperative approaches to streamline regulation of border community networks, such as joint financial audits, and shall report to the legislature on any changes to Minnesota law that may be needed to implement appropriate collaborative approaches to regulation.
Each community integrated service network regulated under this chapter must ensure that chemically dependent individuals have access to cost-effective treatment options that address the specific needs of individuals. These include, but are not limited to, the need for: treatment that takes into account severity of illness and comorbidities; provision of a continuum of care, including treatment and rehabilitation programs licensed under chapter 245G; the safety of the individual's domestic and community environment; gender appropriate and culturally appropriate programs; and access to appropriate social services.
Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes