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Chapter 256L

Section 256L.03

Recent History

256L.03 Covered health services.

Subdivision 1. Covered health services. "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 preventive services, orthodontic services, nonemergency medical transportation services, personal care assistant and case management services, nursing home or intermediate care facilities services, inpatient mental health services, and chemical dependency services. Effective July 1, 1998, adult dental care for nonpreventive services with the exception of orthodontic services is available to persons who qualify under section 256L.04, subdivisions 1 to 7, or 256L.13, with family gross income equal to or less than 175 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Outpatient mental health services covered under the MinnesotaCare program are limited to diagnostic assessments, psychological testing, explanation of findings, medication management by a physician, day treatment, partial hospitalization, and individual, family, and group psychotherapy.

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.

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

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) Beginning July 1, 1993, 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. Prior to July 1, 1997, the inpatient hospital benefit for adult enrollees is subject to an annual benefit limit of $10,000. Effective July 1, 1997, the inpatient hospital benefit for adult enrollees who qualify under section 256L.04, subdivision 7, or who qualify under section 256L.04, subdivisions 1 to 6, or 256L.13 with family gross income that exceeds 175 percent of the federal poverty guidelines and who are not pregnant, is subject to an annual limit of $10,000.

(b) Enrollees who qualify under section 256L.04, subdivision 7, or who qualify under section 256L.04, subdivisions 1 to 6, or 256L.13 with family gross income that exceeds 175 percent of the federal poverty guidelines and who are not pregnant, and are determined by the commissioner to have a basis of eligibility for medical assistance shall apply for and cooperate with the requirements of medical assistance by the last day of the third month following admission to an inpatient hospital. If an enrollee fails to apply for medical assistance within this time period, the enrollee and the enrollee's family shall be disenrolled from the plan and they may not reenroll until 12 calendar months have elapsed. Enrollees and enrollees' families disenrolled for not applying for or not cooperating with medical assistance may not reenroll.

(c) 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.

(d) Any enrollee or family member of an enrollee who has previously been permanently disenrolled from MinnesotaCare for not applying for and cooperating with medical assistance shall be eligible to reenroll if 12 calendar months have elapsed since the date of disenrollment.

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, and shall apply to the secretary of health and human services for any necessary federal waivers or approvals.

Subd. 5. Copayments and coinsurance. The MinnesotaCare benefit plan shall include the following copayments and coinsurance requirements:

(1) ten percent of the paid charges for inpatient hospital services for adult enrollees not eligible for medical assistance, subject to an annual inpatient out-of-pocket maximum of $1,000 per individual and $3,000 per family;

(2) $3 per prescription for adult enrollees;

(3) $25 for eyeglasses for adult enrollees; and

(4) effective July 1, 1998, 50 percent of the fee-for-service rate for adult dental care services other than preventive care services for persons eligible under section 256L.04, subdivisions 1 to 7, or 256L.13, with income equal to or less than 175 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.

Prior to July 1, 1997, enrollees who are not eligible for medical assistance with or without a spenddown shall be financially responsible for the coinsurance amount and amounts which exceed the $10,000 benefit limit. Effective July 1, 1997, adult enrollees who qualify under section 256L.04, subdivision 7, or who qualify under section 256L.04, subdivisions 1 to 6, or 256L.13 with family gross income that exceeds 175 percent of the federal poverty guidelines and who are not pregnant, and who are not eligible for medical assistance with or without a spenddown, shall be financially responsible for the coinsurance amount and amounts which exceed the $10,000 inpatient hospital benefit limit.

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.

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 authorized agents of the state agency.

HIST: 1986 c 444; 1992 c 549 art 4 s 4,19; 1992 c 603 s 31; 1993 c 247 art 4 s 2-4,11; 1993 c 345 art 9 s 3; 1993 c 366 s 26; 1994 c 625 art 8 s 50,51,72; 1995 c 207 art 6 s 12; 1995 c 234 art 6 s 4,5; 1997 c 225 art 1 s 1-3

* NOTE: The amendment to subdivision 7, clause (1), now *renumbered as subdivision 5, clause (1), by Laws 1997, chapter *225, article 1, section 3, is effective July 1, 1998. Laws *1997, chapter 225, article 1, section 22.

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Revisor of Statutes