SF 2422 requires the Commissioner of Human Services to establish a health care program for low-income uninsured adults and children who are not eligible for medical assistance or MinnesotaCare.

Section 1 (256L.30) requires the commissioner to establish a program that provides coverage to low-income uninsured children and adults.

Subdivision 1 specifies that to be eligible for the program, the child or adult must not be eligible for MA or MinnesotaCare; must have a family income that is equal to or less than 200 percent of FPG; and must meet the other eligibility requirements of the MinnesotaCare program with the exception of the citizenship requirement.  Specifies that the requirements and procedures of the MinnesotaCare program in terms of application, premiums, enrollment, disenrollment, and eligibility determination apply to this program.

Subdivision 2 specifies that the services covered under this program are the MinnesotaCare covered services with the exception of services that are covered under EMA.  Also specifies that for children and adults with family income less than 138 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, the services under section 256B.0625 are also covered.  The commissioner is required to coordinate this program with the EMA program in order to make the transitions between programs as seamless and invisible to the enrollee as possible.

Subdivision 3 specifies that the MinnesotaCare premiums and cost-sharing provisions apply.

Subdivision 4 authorizes the commissioner to contract with managed care plans, county-based purchasing plans, provider networks, nonprofit coverage programs, counties, or health care delivery systems to administer the program.  Requires the commissioner to ensure that an individual who is eligible for the program has the opportunity to receive covered services from an essential community provider.

Subdivision 5 specifies that the commissioner may only use the information collected under this section for purposes of administering this program.

Section 2 requires the Commissioner of  Human Services to seek federal approval for changes to the emergency medical assistance program to allow coverage and payment for cost-effective, community-based, and outpatient services as an alternative to hospital inpatient and emergency department services in order to reduce the total cost of care.