Subdivision 1. Standing referral. A health plan company shall establish a procedure by which an enrollee may apply for and, if appropriate, receive a standing referral to a health care provider who is a specialist if a referral to a specialist is required for coverage. This procedure for a standing referral must specify the necessary managed care review and approval an enrollee must obtain before such a standing referral is permitted.
Subd. 1a. Mandatory standing referral. (a) An enrollee who requests a standing referral to a specialist qualified to treat the specific condition described in clauses (1) to (5) must be given a standing referral for visits to such a specialist if benefits for such treatment are provided under the health plan and the enrollee has any of the following conditions:
(1) a chronic health condition;
(2) a life-threatening mental or physical illness;
(3) pregnancy beyond the first trimester of pregnancy;
(4) a degenerative disease or disability; or
(5) any other condition or disease of sufficient seriousness and complexity to require treatment by a specialist.
(b) Nothing in this section limits the application of section 62Q.52 specifying direct access to obstetricians and gynecologists.
(c) Paragraph (a) does not apply to health plans issued under sections 43A.23 to 43A.31.
Subd. 2. Coordination of services. An enrollee with a standing referral to a specialist may request primary care services from that specialist. The specialist, in agreement with the enrollee and primary care provider or primary care group, may elect to provide primary care services to the enrollee, authorize tests and services, and make secondary referrals according to procedures established by the health plan company. The health plan company may limit the primary care services, tests and services, and secondary referrals authorized under this subdivision to those that are related to the specific condition or conditions for which the standing referral was made.
Subd. 3. Disclosure. Information regarding referral procedures must be included in member contracts or certificates of coverage and must be provided to an enrollee or prospective enrollee by a health plan company upon request.
Subd. 4. Referral. (a) If a standing referral is authorized under subdivision 1 or is mandatory under subdivision 1a, the health plan company must provide a referral to an appropriate participating specialist who is reasonably available and accessible to provide the treatment or to a nonparticipating specialist if the health plan company does not have an appropriate participating specialist who is reasonably available and accessible to treat the enrollee's condition or disease.
(b) If an enrollee receives services from a nonparticipating specialist because a participating specialist is not available, services must be provided at no additional cost to the enrollee beyond what the enrollee would otherwise pay for services received from a participating specialist.
1997 c 237 s 13; 1Sp2001 c 9 art 16 s 8; 2002 c 379 art 1 s 113
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapters 59A - 79A — Insurance
Chapter 62Q — Health Plan Companies
Section 62Q.02 — Applicability Of Chapter.
Section 62Q.021 — Federal Act; Compliance Required.
Section 62Q.025 — High Deductible Health Plans.
Section 62Q.03 — Process For Risk Adjustment System.
Section 62Q.075 — Local Public Accountability And Collaboration Plan.
Section 62Q.096 — Credentialing Of Providers.
Section 62Q.097 — Requirements For Timely Provider Credentialing.
Section 62Q.101 — Evaluation Of Provider Performance.
Section 62Q.1055 — Chemical Dependency.
Section 62Q.106 — Dispute Resolution By Commissioner.
Section 62Q.107 — Prohibited Provision; Judicial Review.
Section 62Q.12 — Denial Of Access.
Section 62Q.121 — Licensure Of Medical Directors.
Section 62Q.135 — Contracting For Chemical Dependency Services.
Section 62Q.137 — Chemical Dependency Treatment; Coverage.
Section 62Q.14 — Restrictions On Enrollee Services.
Section 62Q.145 — Abortion And Scope Of Practice.
Section 62Q.16 — Midmonth Termination Prohibited.
Section 62Q.165 — Universal Coverage.
Section 62Q.17 — Voluntary Purchasing Pools.
Section 62Q.18 — Portability Of Coverage.
Section 62Q.181 — Written Certification Of Coverage.
Section 62Q.184 — Step Therapy Override.
Section 62Q.1841 — Prohibition On Use Of Step Therapy For Metastatic Cancer.
Section 62Q.185 — Guaranteed Renewability; Large Employer Group.
Section 62Q.186 — Prohibition On Rescissions Of Health Plans.
Section 62Q.188 — Flexible Benefits Plans.
Section 62Q.19 — Essential Community Providers.
Section 62Q.22 — Health Care Services Prepaid Option.
Section 62Q.23 — General Services.
Section 62Q.32 — Local Ombudsperson.
Section 62Q.33 — Local Government Public Health Functions.
Section 62Q.37 — Audits Conducted By Independent Organization.
Section 62Q.43 — Geographic Access.
Section 62Q.45 — Coverage For Out-of-area Primary Care.
Section 62Q.46 — Preventive Items And Services.
Section 62Q.47 — Alcoholism, Mental Health, And Chemical Dependency Services.
Section 62Q.471 — Exclusion For Suicide Attempts Prohibited.
Section 62Q.472 — Screening And Testing For Opioids.
Section 62Q.48 — Cost-sharing In Prescription Insulin Drugs.
Section 62Q.49 — Enrollee Cost Sharing; Negotiated Provider Payments.
Section 62Q.50 — Prostate Cancer Screening.
Section 62Q.51 — Point-of-service Option.
Section 62Q.52 — Direct Access To Obstetric And Gynecologic Services.
Section 62Q.521 — Postnatal Care.
Section 62Q.525 — Coverage For Off-label Drug Use.
Section 62Q.526 — Coverage For Participation In Approved Clinical Trials.
Section 62Q.527 — Nonformulary Antipsychotic Drugs; Required Coverage.
Section 62Q.528 — Drug Coverage In Emergency Situations.
Section 62Q.529 — Coverage For Drugs Prescribed And Dispensed By Pharmacies.
Section 62Q.53 — Mental Health Coverage; Medically Necessary Care.
Section 62Q.535 — Coverage For Court-ordered Mental Health Services.
Section 62Q.54 — Referrals For Residents Of Health Care Facilities.
Section 62Q.545 — Coverage Of Home Care Nursing.
Section 62Q.55 — Emergency Services.
Section 62Q.556 — Unauthorized Provider Services.
Section 62Q.56 — Continuity Of Care.
Section 62Q.57 — Designation Of Primary Care Provider.
Section 62Q.58 — Access To Specialty Care.
Section 62Q.645 — Efficiency Reports And Distribution Of Information.
Section 62Q.65 — Access To Provider Discounts.
Section 62Q.66 — Durable Medical Equipment Coverage.
Section 62Q.67 — Disclosure Of Covered Durable Medical Equipment.
Section 62Q.675 — Hearing Aids; Persons 18 Or Younger.
Section 62Q.676 — Medication Therapy Management.
Section 62Q.677 — Lifetime And Annual Limits.
Section 62Q.678 — Dependent Child Notice.
Section 62Q.69 — Complaint Resolution.
Section 62Q.70 — Appeal Of The Complaint Decision.
Section 62Q.71 — Notice To Enrollees.
Section 62Q.72 — Record Keeping; Reporting.
Section 62Q.73 — External Review Of Adverse Determinations.
Section 62Q.731 — Appeal From Adverse Determination.
Section 62Q.733 — Definitions.
Section 62Q.735 — Provider Contracting Procedures.
Section 62Q.736 — Payment Rates.
Section 62Q.737 — Service Code Changes.
Section 62Q.739 — Unilateral Terms Prohibited.
Section 62Q.74 — Network Shadow Contracting.
Section 62Q.746 — Access To Certain Information Regarding Providers.
Section 62Q.75 — Prompt Payment Required.
Section 62Q.751 — Collecting Deductibles And Coinsurance.
Section 62Q.77 — Terms Of Coverage Disclosure.
Section 62Q.78 — Dental Benefit Plan Requirements.
Section 62Q.80 — Community-based Health Care Coverage Program.
Section 62Q.81 — Essential Health Benefit Package Requirements.