These are the legal provisions related to hospital financial assistance/charity care in the state of Minnesota. This is intended for educational use and should not be treated as legal advice.
Is there a state charity care law?
Minnesota's law is as follows: There is not a law, but most hospitals have signed an agreement with the attorney general's office to offer a certain amount of reduced cost care.
Qualifications for charity care in Minnesota
Does the law specify a minimum Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for charity care?
Minnesota's law regarding minimum FPL is as follows: Patients who make below $125,000 cannot be billed more than what the hospital's most favorable insurer would pay for the same services
Does the law specify a minimum deadline for applying for charity care?
Minnesota law specifies the minimum at 240 days from the first post-discharge bill.
Does the law specify that having insurance disqualifies a patient for charity care?
Minnesota law explicitly requires hospitals to provide assistance to the insured.
Does the law specify that patients must be residents to be eligible for charity care?
Minnesota law does not address this matter, so federal law would apply.
Federal law does not directly answer this. However, we think that federal law prohibits nonprofit hospitals from denying patients charity care because of their residency.
Does the law specify that patients must be US citizens or documented immigrants/lawful permanent residents to be eligible for charity care?
According to state law, immigration status cannot disqualify patients from receiving emergency medical services.
Does the law specify that patients must owe a minimum bill amount in order to be eligible for charity care?
Minnesota law does not address this matter, so federal law would apply.
Federal law says that non-profit hospitals may not require a minimum bill amount for a patient to qualify for charity care. All emergency and medically necessary care conducted at a non-profit hospital is eligible for charity care.
How the law applies to copays in Minnesota
Does the law specify that patients cannot be responsible for a copay if they are eligible for charity care?
Minnesota prohibits requiring a copay for emergency services.
Does the law specify that hospitals cannot deny financial assistance to cover patient copays, coinsurance, or deductibles?
Minnesota prohibits requiring a copay for emergency services.
Collections laws related to charity care in Minnesota
Does the law specify that hospitals cannot deny financial assistance to cover patient copays, coinsurance, or deductibles?
A nonprofit hospital must have and follow its Billing and Collections policy. At a minimum it cannot sell a debt, refer it to a credit reporting bureau, or engage in a judicial process (such as filing a lawsuit or garnishing wages) for at least 120 days after it sent the patient the first post-discharge bill. Further, before referring to a debt collector any hospital must 1) confirm that there is a reasonable basis to believe the patient owes the debt, 2) confirm that all third-party payors have been billed, 3) offered the payment a reasonable payment plan if they indicated an inability to pay, and 4) given the patient a reasonable opportunity to submit a charity care application.
Length of time charity care can be applied to future bills in Minnesota
Does the law specify that hospitals must honor a charity care decision for future bills for a specific length of time?
Minnesota law does not address this matter, so federal law would apply.
Federal law does not directly address this. Nonprofit hospitals are simply required to follow their financial assistance policy.