Health care; technical corrections made.

A bill for an act

relating to health care; making technical corrections; amending Minnesota Statutes

2024, section 256B.037, subdivision 1.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.037, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Contract for dental services.

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(a)
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The commissioner may conduct a

demonstration project to contract, on a prospective per capita payment basis, with an

organization or organizations licensed under chapter 62C, 62D, or 62N for the provision of

all dental care services beginning July 1, 1994, under the medical assistance and

MinnesotaCare programs, or when necessary waivers are granted by the secretary of health

and human services, whichever occurs later. The commissioner shall identify a geographic

area or areas, including both urban and rural areas, where access to dental services has been

inadequate, in which to conduct demonstration projects. The commissioner shall seek any

federal waivers or approvals necessary to implement this section from the secretary of health

and human services.

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(b)
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The commissioner may exclude from participation in the demonstration project any

or all groups currently excluded from participation in the prepaid medical assistance program

under section
256B.69
. Except for persons excluded from participation in the demonstration

project, all persons who have been determined eligible for medical assistance and, if

applicable, MinnesotaCare and reside in the designated geographic areas are required to

enroll in a dental plan to receive their dental care services. Except for emergency services

or out-of-plan services authorized by the dental plan, recipients must receive their dental

services from dental care providers who are part of the dental plan provider network.

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(c)
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The commissioner shall select either multiple dental plans or a single dental plan in

a designated area. A dental plan under contract with the department must serve medical

assistance recipients in a designated geographic area and may serve MinnesotaCare recipients.

The commissioner may limit the number of dental plans with which the department contracts

within a designated geographic area, taking into consideration the number of recipients

within the designated geographic area; the number of potential dental plan contractors; the

size of the provider network offered by dental plans; the dental care services offered by a

dental plan; qualifications of dental plan personnel; accessibility of services to recipients;

dental plan assurances of recipient confidentiality; dental plan marketing and enrollment

activities; dental plan compliance with this section; dental plan performance under other

contracts with the department to serve medical assistance or MinnesotaCare recipients; or

any other factors necessary to provide the most economical care consistent with high

standards of dental care.

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(d)
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For purposes of this section, "dental plan" means an organization licensed under

chapter 62C, 62D, or 62N that contracts with the department to provide covered dental care

services to recipients on a prepaid capitation basis. "Emergency services" has the meaning

given in section
256B.0625, subdivision 4
. "Multiple dental plan area" means a designated

area in which more than one dental plan is offered. "Participating provider" means a dentist

or dental clinic who is employed by or under contract with a dental plan to provide dental

care services to recipients. "Single dental plan area" means a designated area in which only

one dental plan is available.