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Probate & Trust Law Section Conference Manual ... - Minnesota CLE

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Since its inception, <strong>Minnesota</strong>Care has been cited as an important part of<br />

the <strong>Minnesota</strong> health care delivery system. It has been cited as one of the<br />

reasons why more <strong>Minnesota</strong>ns have health insurance than most other<br />

states. Unfortunately, <strong>Minnesota</strong>Care does not fit nicely into the design of<br />

the Affordable Care Act to provide health insurance coverage starting<br />

January 1, 2014.<br />

Article 1 of the <strong>Conference</strong> Report contains the modifications to<br />

<strong>Minnesota</strong>Care that will be needed to qualify <strong>Minnesota</strong>Care for federal<br />

funds under ACA. These amendments make the following changes:<br />

Art. 1, Sec. 3, amends Minn. Stat. § 256B.01, by adding a new subd. 35,<br />

directing the Commissioner of Human Services to obtain federal approval<br />

to increase the income standard for <strong>Minnesota</strong>Care 275% of federal<br />

poverty guidelines. (currently $2,497 per month for a household of one;<br />

$3,344.25 for a household of two).<br />

Art.1, Sec.7, amends Minn. Stat. § 256B.02, by adding a new subdivision<br />

19 to define <strong>Minnesota</strong> Insurance Affordability Programs to include<br />

medical assistance under chapter 256B; a program that provides advance<br />

payments of premium tax credits under ACA; <strong>Minnesota</strong>Care; and a Basic<br />

Health Plan as defined under ACA.<br />

Art. 1, Sec. 8, amends Minn. Stat. § 256B.04, subd. 18, to require that the<br />

state agency (the Department of Human Services) take medical assistance<br />

applications by telephone, via mail, in-person, online via an Internet Web<br />

site, and through other commonly available electronic means. If an<br />

applicant is not eligible for medical assistance, the state agency must<br />

determine potential eligibility for other insurance affordability programs.<br />

Art. 1, Sec. 19, amends Minn. Stat. § 256B.056, by adding a new subd.<br />

7a, to require that the Commissioner of Human service make an annual<br />

determination of eligibility for medical assistance benefits based on<br />

information contained in the enrollee’s case file and other information<br />

available to the agency, including information available through an<br />

electronic data base, without requiring the enrollee to submit information<br />

when sufficient information is otherwise available to the state agency. This<br />

amendment also requires the commissioner to provide enrollees with prepopulated<br />

renewal forms that only require correction or additional<br />

information. If the enrollee fails to return the renewal form in a timely<br />

manner, the enrollee may submit the required information within four<br />

months of denial of benefits and be reinstated without a lapse in coverage.<br />

42

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