1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to health insurance; requiring coverage of vasectomies by health plans;
1.3 amending Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 62Q.522, subdivision 1.
1.4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 62Q.522, subdivision 1, is
1.6 amended to read:
1.7 Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) The definitions in this subdivision apply to this section.
1.8 (b) "Closely held for-profit entity" means an entity that:
1.9 (1) is not a nonprofit entity;
1.10 (2) has more than 50 percent of the value of its ownership interest owned directly or
1.11 indirectly by five or fewer owners; and
1.12 (3) has no publicly traded ownership interest.
1.13 For purposes of this paragraph:
1.14 (i) ownership interests owned by a corporation, partnership, limited liability company,
1.15 estate, trust, or similar entity are considered owned by that entity's shareholders, partners,
1.16 members, or beneficiaries in proportion to their interest held in the corporation, partnership,
1.17 limited liability company, estate, trust, or similar entity;
1.18 (ii) ownership interests owned by a nonprofit entity are considered owned by a single
1.19 owner;
2.1 (iii) ownership interests owned by all individuals in a family are considered held by a
2.2 single owner. For purposes of this item, "family" means brothers and sisters, including
2.3 half-brothers and half-sisters, a spouse, ancestors, and lineal descendants; and
2.4 (iv) if an individual or entity holds an option, warrant, or similar right to purchase an
2.5 ownership interest, the individual or entity is considered to be the owner of those ownership
2.6 interests.
2.7 (c) "Contraceptive method" means a drug, device, or other product approved by the Food
2.8 and Drug Administration to prevent unintended pregnancy.
2.9 (d) "Contraceptive service" means consultation, examination, procedures, and medical
2.10 services related to the prevention of unintended pregnancy, excluding vasectomies. This
2.11 includes but is not limited to voluntary sterilization procedures, patient education, counseling
2.12 on contraceptives, and follow-up services related to contraceptive methods or services,
2.13 management of side effects, counseling for continued adherence, and device insertion or
2.14 removal.
2.15 (e) "Eligible organization" means an organization that opposes providing coverage for
2.16 some or all contraceptive methods or services on account of religious objections and that
2.17 is:
2.18 (1) organized as a nonprofit entity and holds itself out to be religious; or
2.19 (2) organized and operates as a closely held for-profit entity, and the organization's
2.20 owners or highest governing body has adopted, under the organization's applicable rules of
2.21 governance and consistent with state law, a resolution or similar action establishing that the
2.22 organization objects to covering some or all contraceptive methods or services on account
2.23 of the owners' sincerely held religious beliefs.
2.24 (f) "Exempt organization" means an organization that is organized and operates as a
2.25 nonprofit entity and meets the requirements of section 6033(a)(3)(A)(i) or (iii) of the Internal
2.26 Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
2.27 (g) "Medical necessity" includes but is not limited to considerations such as severity of
2.28 side effects, difference in permanence and reversibility of a contraceptive method or service,
2.29 and ability to adhere to the appropriate use of the contraceptive method or service, as
2.30 determined by the attending provider.
2.31 (h) "Therapeutic equivalent version" means a drug, device, or product that can be expected
2.32 to have the same clinical effect and safety profile when administered to a patient under the
2.33 conditions specified in the labeling, and that:
3.1 (1) is approved as safe and effective;
3.2 (2) is a pharmaceutical equivalent: (i) containing identical amounts of the same active
3.3 drug ingredient in the same dosage form and route of administration; and (ii) meeting
3.4 compendial or other applicable standards of strength, quality, purity, and identity;
3.5 (3) is bioequivalent in that:
3.6 (i) the drug, device, or product does not present a known or potential bioequivalence
3.7 problem and meets an acceptable in vitro standard; or
3.8 (ii) if the drug, device, or product does present a known or potential bioequivalence
3.9 problem, it is shown to meet an appropriate bioequivalence standard;
3.10 (4) is adequately labeled; and
3.11 (5) is manufactured in compliance with current manufacturing practice regulations.
3.12 EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2025, and applies to health
3.13 plans offered, issued, or renewed on or after that date.
