MN HF697

Redefines "health care provider" in Minnesota Statutes to exclude hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and freestanding emergency rooms, effective July 1, 2019.

Requires health plan companies to disclose contract amendments or changes to providers at least 45 days before the effective date, with exceptions for law-required changes; non-compliant amendments are not effective until the next contract year.

Mandates providers receive notice of fee schedule changes and materially altered contractual policies at least 45 days before implementation and grants providers the right to terminate contracts before such changes take effect.

Establishes a 10-member task force to study direct and indirect costs of high deductible health plans, including collection costs for providers and uncollected debt; task force must convene by August 1, 2019 and submit recommendations to legislature by February 1, 2020.

Appropriates funds from the general fund to the Department of Commerce to cover task force costs.