62J.78 Establishment; organization. 

    Subdivision 1.    General.  The commissioner shall 
 establish within the department of health the office of health 
 care consumer assistance, advocacy, and information to provide 
 assistance, advocacy, and information to all health care 
 consumers within the state.  The office shall have no regulatory 
 power or authority, shall be separated from all regulatory 
 functions within the department of health, and shall not provide 
 legal representation in a court of law. 

    Subd. 2.    Executive director.  An executive director 
 shall be appointed by the commissioner, in consultation with the 
 consumer advisory board, and shall report directly to the 
 commissioner.  The executive director must be selected without 
 regard to political affiliation and must be a person who has 
 knowledge and experience concerning the needs and rights of 
 health care consumers and must be qualified to analyze questions 
 of law, administrative functions, and public policy.  No person 
 may serve as executive director while holding another public 
 office.  The director shall serve in the unclassified service.  

    Subd. 3.    Staff.  The executive director shall appoint 
 at least nine consumer advocates to discharge the 
 responsibilities and duties of the office. 

    Subd. 4.    Training.  The executive director shall 
 ensure that the consumer advocates are adequately trained. 

    Subd. 5.    Statewide advocacy.  The executive director 
 shall assign a consumer advocate to represent each regional 
 coordinating board's geographic area. 

    Subd. 6.    Financial interest.  The executive director 
 and staff must not have any direct personal financial interest 
 in the health care system except as an individual consumer of 
 health care services. 

    Subd. 7.    Administration.  To the extent practical, 
 the office of health care consumer assistance, advocacy, and 
 information and all ombudsman offices with health care 
 responsibilities shall have their telephone systems linked in 
 order to facilitate immediate referrals. 

    HIST: 1998 c 407 art 2 s 16