1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to human services; providing state-funded medical assistance and
1.3 MinnesotaCare for inmates of county jails; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024,
1.4 sections 256B.055, subdivision 14; 256L.04, subdivision 12; 641.15, subdivision
1.5 2.
1.6BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.7 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.055, subdivision 14, is amended to read:
1.8 Subd. 14.Persons detained by law.(a) Medical assistance may be paid for an inmate
1.9of a correctional facility who is conditionally released as authorized under section 241.26,
1.10244.065, or 631.425, if the individual does not require the security of a public detention
1.11facility and is housed in a halfway house or community correction center, or under house
1.12arrest and monitored by electronic surveillance in a residence approved by the commissioner
1.13of corrections, and if the individual meets the other eligibility requirements of this chapter.
1.14 (b) An individual who is enrolled in medical assistance, and who is charged with a crime
1.15and incarcerated for less than 12 months shall be suspended from eligibility at the time of
1.16incarceration until the individual is released. Upon release, medical assistance eligibility is
1.17reinstated without reapplication using a reinstatement process and form, if the individual is
1.18otherwise eligible.
1.19 (c) An individual, regardless of age, who is considered an inmate of a public institution
1.20as defined in Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, section 435.1010, and who meets the
1.21eligibility requirements in section 256B.056, is not eligible for federally funded medical
1.22assistance, except for covered services received while an inpatient in a medical institution
1.23as defined in Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, section 435.1010, but is eligible for
1Section 1.
REVISOR AGW/HL 25-0509103/19/25
State of Minnesota
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. F. No. 2950
NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
Authored by Backer and Duran04/01/2025
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Health Finance and Policy 2.1medical assistance without federal financial participation if the individual is an inmate of
2.2a county jail in Minnesota. Security issues, including costs, related to the inpatient medical
2.3treatment of an inmate are the responsibility of the entity with jurisdiction over the inmate.
2.4 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256L.04, subdivision 12, is amended to read:
2.5 Subd. 12.Persons in detention.(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), an applicant
2.6or enrollee residing in a correctional or detention facility is not eligible for MinnesotaCare,
2.7unless the applicant or enrollee is awaiting disposition of charges.
2.8 (b) An applicant or enrollee residing as an inmate in a county jail in Minnesota is eligible
2.9for state-funded MinnesotaCare, provided all other MinnesotaCare eligibility requirements
2.10are met.
2.11 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 641.15, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
2.12 Subd. 2.Medical aid.Except as provided in section 466.101, the county board shall
2.13pay the costs of medical services provided to prisoners pursuant to this section. The amount
2.14paid by the county board for a medical service shall not exceed the maximum allowed
2.15medical assistance payment rate for the service, as determined by the commissioner of
2.16human services. In the absence of a health or medical insurance or health plan that has a
2.17contractual obligation with the provider or the prisoner, medical providers shall charge no
2.18higher than the rate negotiated between the county and the provider. In the absence of an
2.19agreement between the county and the provider, the provider may not charge an amount
2.20that exceeds the maximum allowed medical assistance payment rate for the service, as
2.21determined by the commissioner of human services. The county is entitled to reimbursement
2.22from the prisoner for payment of medical bills to the extent that the prisoner to whom the
2.23medical aid was provided has the ability to pay the bills. The prisoner shall, at a minimum,
2.24incur co-payment obligations for health care services provided by a county correctional
2.25facility. The county board shall determine the co-payment amount. Notwithstanding any
2.26law to the contrary, the co-payment shall be deducted from any of the prisoner's funds held
2.27by the county, to the extent possible. If there is a disagreement between the county and a
2.28prisoner concerning the prisoner's ability to pay, the court with jurisdiction over the defendant
2.29shall determine the extent, if any, of the prisoner's ability to pay for the medical services.
2.30If a prisoner is covered by health or medical insurance or other health plan when medical
2.31services are provided, the medical provider shall bill that health or medical insurance or
2.32other plan. If the county providing the medical services for a prisoner that has coverage
2.33under health or medical insurance or other plan, that county has a right of subrogation to
2Sec. 3.
REVISOR AGW/HL 25-0509103/19/25 3.1be reimbursed by the insurance carrier for all sums spent by it for medical services to the
3.2prisoner that are covered by the policy of insurance or health plan, in accordance with the
3.3benefits, limitations, exclusions, provider restrictions, and other provisions of the policy or
3.4health plan. The county may maintain an action to enforce this subrogation right. The county
3.5does not have a right of subrogation against the medical assistance program. The county
3.6shall not charge prisoners for telephone calls to MNsure navigators, the Minnesota Warmline,
3.7a mental health provider, or calls for the purpose of providing case management or mental
3.8health services as defined in section 245.462 to prisoners. A county may assist inmates of
3.9county jails in applying for medical assistance under section 256B.055, subdivision 14, and
3.10MinnesotaCare under section 256L.04, subdivision 12.
3Sec. 3.
REVISOR AGW/HL 25-0509103/19/25