Minnesota Billing Rights

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Additional State-Law Protections for Patients with State-Regulated Health Plans

Under Minnesota’s “Consumer Protections Against Balance Billing”:

  • Balance billing is prohibited when an enrollee receives services from:
    • a nonparticipating provider at a participating hospital or ambulatory surgical center, as described by the No Surprises Act
    • a participating provider that sends a specimen taken from the enrollee in the participating provider’s practice setting to a nonparticipating laboratory, pathologist, or other medical testing facility; or
    • a nonparticipating provider or facility providing other services as described in the requirements of the No Surprises Act and emergency services with respect to an emergency medical condition, including an immediate response service available on a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week basis for persons having a psychiatric crisis, a mental health crisis, or emergency or for each child having a psychiatric crisis, a mental health crisis, or a mental health emergency
  • The services described above are subject to balance billing if the enrollee provides informed consent prior to receiving services from the nonparticipating provider acknowledging that the use of a provider, or the services to be rendered, may result in costs not covered by the health plan. The informed consent must comply with all requirements of the No Surprises Act.

Filing a Complaint

If you’ve received a surprise bill and you believe your health plan is not following the No Surprises Act, you can file an appeal with your health plan or ask for an external review of its decision. You can also file a complaint with the Minnesota Department of Health at www.health.state.mn.us/facilities/insurance/managedcare/complaint/index.html or the Minnesota Department of Commerce at mn.gov/commerce/consumer/file-a-complaint/.

State Agency Contact Information

Minnesota Department of Health

Phone: 651-201-5100
Website: www.health.state.mn.us/facilities/insurance/managedcare/faq/nosurprisesact.html

Additional Information

For more information, email health.mcs@state.mn.us.

Visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises/consumers or call 800-985-3059 for more information about your rights under federal law.