Subd. 1. Unique identification number for health care provider organizations.

1. (a) Not later than 24 months after the date on which a unique health identifier for health care providers is adopted or established under United States Code, title 42, sections 1320d to 1320d-8 (1996 and subsequent amendments), all group purchasers and health care providers in Minnesota shall use a unique identification number to identify health care provider organizations, except as provided in paragraph (b).
2. (b) Small health plans, as defined by the federal Secretary of Health and Human Services under United States Code, title 42, section 1320d-4 (1996 and subsequent amendments), shall use a unique identification number to identify health provider organizations no later than 36 months after the date on which a unique health identifier for health care providers is adopted or established under United States Code, title 42, sections 1320d to 1320d-8 (1996 and subsequent amendments).
3. (c) The unique health identifier for health care providers adopted or established by the federal Secretary of Health and Human Services under United States Code, title 42, sections 1320d to 1320d-8 (1996 and subsequent amendments), shall be used as the unique identification number for health care provider organizations.

4. (d) Provider organizations required to have a unique health identifier are:

   1. (1) hospitals licensed under chapter 144;
   2. (2) nursing homes and hospices licensed under chapter 144A;
   3. (3) subacute care facilities;
   4. (4) individual providers organized as a clinic or group practice;
   5. (5) independent laboratory, pharmacy, surgery, radiology, or outpatient facilities;
   6. (6) ambulance services licensed under chapter 144;
   7. (7) special transportation services certified under chapter 174; and

   8. (8) other provider organizations as required by the federal Secretary of Health and Human Services under United States Code, title 42, sections 1320d to 1320d-8 (1996 and subsequent amendments).

      Provider organizations shall obtain a unique health identifier from the federal Secretary of Health and Human Services using the process prescribed by the Secretary.

5. (e) Only the unique health care provider organization identifier shall be used for purposes of submitting and receiving claims, and in conjunction with other data collection and reporting functions.
6. (f) The commissioner of health may contract with the federal Secretary of Health and Human Services or the Secretary's agent to implement this subdivision.

Subd. 2. Unique identification number for individual health care providers.

1. (a) Not later than 24 months after the date on which a unique health identifier for health care providers is adopted or established under United States Code, title 42, sections 1320d to 1320d-8 (1996 and subsequent amendments), all group purchasers and health care providers in Minnesota shall use a unique identification number to identify an individual health care provider, except as provided in paragraph (b).
2. (b) Small health plans, as defined by the federal Secretary of Health and Human Services under United States Code, title 42, section 1320d-4 (1996 and subsequent amendments), shall use a unique identification number to identify an individual health care provider no later than 36 months after the date on which a unique health identifier for health care providers is adopted or established under United States Code, title 42, sections 1320d to 1320d-8 (1996 and subsequent amendments).
3. (c) The unique health identifier for health care providers adopted or established by the federal Secretary of Health and Human Services under United States Code, title 42, sections 1320d to 1320d-8 (1996 and subsequent amendments), shall be used as the unique identification number for individual health care providers.

4. (d) Individual providers required to have a unique health identifier are:

   1. (1) physicians licensed under chapter 147;
   2. (2) dentists licensed under chapter 150A;
   3. (3) chiropractors licensed under chapter 148;
   4. (4) podiatrists licensed under chapter 153;
   5. (5) physician assistants as defined under section 147A.01;
   6. (6) advanced practice nurses as defined under section 62A.15;
   7. (7) doctors of optometry licensed under section 148.57;
   8. (8) pharmacists licensed under chapter 151;
   9. (9) individual providers who may bill Medicare for medical and other health services as defined in United States Code, title 42, section 1395x(s);
   10. (10) individual providers who are providers for state and federal health care programs administered by the commissioner of human services; and

   11. (11) other individual providers as required by the federal Secretary of Health and Human Services under United States Code, title 42, sections 1320d to 1320d-8 (1996 and subsequent amendments).

       Providers shall obtain a unique health identifier from the federal Secretary of Health and Human Services using the process prescribed by the Secretary.

5. (e) Only the unique individual health care provider identifier shall be used for purposes of submitting and receiving claims, and in conjunction with other data collection and reporting functions.
6. (f) The commissioner of health may contract with the federal Secretary of Health and Human Services or the Secretary's agent to implement this subdivision.

Subd. 3. Unique identification number for group purchasers.

1. (a) Not later than 24 months after the date on which a unique health identifier for employers and health plans is adopted or established under United States Code, title 42, sections 1320d to 1320d-8 (1996 and subsequent amendments), all group purchasers and health care providers in Minnesota shall use a unique identification number to identify group purchasers, except as provided in paragraph (b).
2. (b) Small health plans, as defined by the federal Secretary of Health and Human Services under United States Code, title 42, section 1320d-4 (1996 and subsequent amendments), shall use a unique identification number to identify group purchasers no later than 36 months after the date on which a unique health identifier for employers and health plans is adopted or established under United States Code, title 42, sections 1320d to 1320d-8 (1996 and subsequent amendments).
3. (c) The unique health identifier for health plans and employers adopted or established by the federal Secretary of Health and Human Services under United States Code, title 42, sections 1320d to 1320d-8 (1996 and subsequent amendments), shall be used as the unique identification number for group purchasers.
4. (d) Group purchasers shall obtain a unique health identifier from the federal Secretary of Health and Human Services using the process prescribed by the Secretary.
5. (e) The unique group purchaser identifier, as described in this section, shall be used for purposes of submitting and receiving claims, and in conjunction with other data collection and reporting functions.
6. (f) The commissioner of health may contract with the federal Secretary of Health and Human Services or the Secretary's agent to implement this subdivision.

Subd. 4. Unique patient identification number.

1. (a) Not later than 24 months after the date on which a unique health identifier for individuals is adopted or established under United States Code, title 42, sections 1320d to 1320d-8 (1996 and subsequent amendments), all group purchasers and health care providers in Minnesota shall use a unique identification number to identify each patient who receives health care services in Minnesota, except as provided in paragraph (b).
2. (b) Small health plans, as defined by the federal Secretary of Health and Human Services under United States Code, title 42, section 1320d-4 (1996 and subsequent amendments), shall use a unique identification number to identify each patient who receives health care services in Minnesota no later than 36 months after the date on which a unique health identifier for individuals is adopted or established under United States Code, title 42, sections 1320d to 1320d-8 (1996 and subsequent amendments).
3. (c) The unique health identifier for individuals adopted or established by the federal Secretary of Health and Human Services under United States Code, title 42, sections 1320d to 1320d-8 (1996 and subsequent amendments), shall be used as the unique patient identification number, except as provided in paragraphs (e) and (f).
4. (d) The unique patient identification number shall be used by group purchasers and health care providers for purposes of submitting and receiving claims, and in conjunction with other data collection and reporting functions.

5. (e) Within the limits of available appropriations, the commissioner shall develop a proposal for an alternate numbering system for patients who do not have or refuse to provide their Social Security numbers, if:

   1. (1) a unique health identifier for individuals is adopted or established under United States Code, title 42, sections 1320d to 1320d-8 (1996 and subsequent amendments);
   2. (2) the unique health identifier is the Social Security number of the patient;
   3. (3) there is no federal alternate numbering system for patients who do not have or refuse to provide their Social Security numbers; and
   4. (4) federal law or the federal Secretary of Health and Human Services explicitly allows a state to develop an alternate numbering system for patients who do not have or refuse to provide their Social Security numbers.
6. (f) If an alternate numbering system is developed under paragraph (e), patients who use numbers issued by the alternate numbering system are not required to provide their Social Security numbers and group purchasers or providers may not demand the Social Security numbers of patients who provide numbers issued by the alternate numbering system. If an alternate numbering system is developed under paragraph (e), group purchasers and health care providers shall establish procedures to notify patients that they can elect not to have their Social Security number used as the unique patient identifier.
7. (g) The commissioner of health may contract with the federal Secretary of Health and Human Services or the Secretary's agent to implement this subdivision.