This bill aims to prohibit facility fees for nonemergency services provided at provider-based clinics in Minnesota. It defines a "facility fee" as any additional charge by a provider-based clinic beyond the professional fee for physicians' services, intended to cover various operational expenses. The bill specifically prohibits health care providers from charging facility fees for nonemergency services, including those provided via telehealth, and for certain outpatient evaluation and management services. Additionally, it mandates that hospitals and health systems submit annual reports to the commissioner of health detailing facility fees charged, billed, and collected, along with other relevant information.

Furthermore, the bill grants the commissioner of health the authority to adopt rules to expand the prohibition on facility fees to additional services deemed safely and effectively provided outside of hospital settings. It establishes enforcement mechanisms, including penalties for noncompliance and the ability for the commissioner to audit health care providers. Notably, the bill repeals the existing Minnesota Statutes section 62J.824, which previously required disclosure of facility fees to patients prior to the delivery of nonemergency services.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 62J.824