MinnesotaCare programs medical assistance coverage of abortion services prohibition, elimination of abortion as a health benefit for health plans other than large group plans, and State Employees Group Insurance Program inclusion of abortion prohibition

A bill for an act

relating to health care; eliminating coverage of abortion services from the medical

assistance and MinnesotaCare programs; eliminating abortion and abortion-related

services as a mandatory health benefit for health plans other than large group plans;

prohibiting the inclusion of coverage for abortions and abortion-related services

in the State Employees Group Insurance Program; amending Minnesota Statutes

2024, sections 43A.22; 62Q.524, subdivision 3; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2024,

sections 62Q.524, subdivisions 4, 5; 256B.0625, subdivision 16.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 43A.22, is amended to read:

43A.22 BENEFITS; INTENT.

(a) It is the intent of the state to provide eligible employees and other eligible persons

with life insurance and hospital, medical, and dental benefits coverage through provider

organizations, hereafter referred to as "carriers," authorized to do business in the state.

(b) The commissioner may self-insure any hospital and medical plan offered under

sections
43A.22
to
43A.31
to promote reasonably stable and predictable premiums for

hospital and medical benefits paid by the state and its employees and to promote affordable,

ongoing relationships between employees and dependents and their medical providers. The

commissioner shall consult with the commissioners of commerce and health and human

services regarding the development and reporting of quality of care measures.

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(c) A hospital or medical plan offered under sections 43A.22 to 43A.31 must not cover

abortions or abortion-related services, including preabortion services and follow-up services.

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Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 62Q.524, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

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Exclusion
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Exclusions
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.

This section does not apply to
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the following:
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(1)
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managed care organizations or county-based purchasing plans when the plan provides

coverage to public health care program enrollees under chapter 256B or 256L
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.
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;
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(2) the State Employees Group Insurance Program under sections 43A.22 to 43A.31;

and

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(3) any health plan that is not a large group health plan.

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Sec. 3.
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REPEALER.
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(a)

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Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 62Q.524, subdivisions 4 and 5,

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are repealed.

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(b)

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Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.0625, subdivision 16,

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is repealed.

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APPENDIX

Repealed Minnesota Statutes: 26-06425

62Q.524 COVERAGE OF ABORTIONS AND ABORTION-RELATED SERVICES.

Subd. 4.

Reimbursement.

(a) The commissioner of commerce must reimburse health plan companies for coverage under this section. Reimbursement is available only for coverage that would not have been provided by the health plan without the requirements of this section. Treatments and services covered by the health plan as of January 1, 2024, are ineligible for payment under this subdivision by the commissioner of commerce.

(b) Health plan companies must report to the commissioner of commerce quantified costs attributable to the additional benefit under this section in a format developed by the commissioner. A health plan's coverage as of January 1, 2024, must be used by the health plan company as the basis for determining whether coverage would not have been provided by the health plan for purposes of this subdivision.

(c) The commissioner of commerce must evaluate submissions and make payments to health plan companies as provided in Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, section
155.170
.

Subd. 5.

Appropriation.

Each fiscal year, an amount necessary to make payments to health plan companies to defray the cost of providing coverage under this section is appropriated to the commissioner of commerce.

256B.0625 COVERED SERVICES.

Subd. 16.

Abortion services.

Medical assistance covers abortions and abortion-related services, including preabortion services and follow-up services.