1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to health; establishing requirements to screen certain hospital patients 
1.3 	before discharge for eligibility for health coverage or assistance;amending 
1.4 	Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 144.586, by adding a subdivision.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 144.586, is amended by adding a subdivision 
1.7 	to read:
1.8 		Subd. 4.Screening for eligibility for health coverage or assistance. (a) At any time 
1.9 	before discharging a patient, a hospital must screen a patient who is uninsured or who does 
1.10 	not know the patient's insurance coverage status for eligibility for charity care from the 
1.11 	hospital, eligibility for state or federal public health care programs using presumptive 
1.12 	eligibility or another similar process, and eligibility for a premium tax credit.
1.13 	(b) If the patient is eligible for charity care from the hospital, the hospital must assist 
1.14 	the patient in applying for charity care and must refer the patient to the appropriate 
1.15 	department in the hospital for follow-up.
1.16 	(c) If the patient is presumptively eligible for a public health care program, the hospital 
1.17 	must assist the patient in completing an insurance affordability program application or must 
1.18 	schedule an appointment for the patient with a navigator organization. If the patient is 
1.19 	eligible for a premium tax credit, the hospital must schedule an appointment for the patient 
1.20 	with a navigator organization.
1.21 	(d) A patient may decline to participate in the screening process, to apply for charity 
1.22 	care, to complete an insurance affordability program application, or to schedule an 
1.23 	appointment with a navigator organization.
2.1 	(e) For purposes of this subdivision:
2.2 	(1) "hospital" means a private, nonprofit, or municipal hospital licensed under sections 
2.3 	144.50 to 144.56;
2.4 	(2) "navigator" has the meaning given in section 62V.02, subdivision 9;
2.5 	(3) "premium tax credit" means a tax credit or premium subsidy under the federal Patient 
2.6 	Protection and Affordable Care Act, Public Law 111-148, as amended, including the federal 
2.7 	Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, Public Law 111-152, and any 
2.8 	amendments to and federal guidance and regulations issued under these acts; and
2.9 	(4) "presumptive eligibility" has the meaning given in section 256B.057, subdivision 
2.10 	12.