SF4437

Purpose

The bill authorizes the coroner or medical examiner to charge fees to recover reasonable expenses for certain administrative functions. This includes fees for cremation approval, duplication of reports, and other administrative tasks, with the requirement that these fees be approved by the county board. It also allows charging a fee to cover the expenses of conducting a medical record review when a facility or organization refuses to act as the medical certifier and complete a death record as required by Minnesota Rules.

Main Provisions

• Fees for cremation-related approvals, duplication of reports, and other administrative functions may be charged to recover reasonable expenses, subject to county board approval.
• If a facility or organization refuses to act as the medical certifier and complete a death record as required under Minnesota Rules part 4601.1800, the coroner or medical examiner may charge a fee to cover reasonable expenses for conducting a medical record review. The fee may include administrative expenses tied to the medical record review and the completion of the death record.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Adds or expands the authority of coroners and medical examiners to charge fees for specific administrative services.
• Establishes that such fees require county board approval.
• Clarifies that fees related to medical record reviews may be imposed when another party refuses to fulfill the medical certifier role and finish a death record, as mandated by Minnesota Rules part 4601.1800.

Practical Implications

• Could shift some administrative costs from the office handling the death certificate and cremation processes to the parties involved, subject to board approval.
• Provides a mechanism to recover costs when third parties refuse to act as medical certifier or complete required death records.

Relevant Terms coroner; medical examiner; cremation approval; duplication of reports; administrative functions; reasonable expenses; county board approval; medical record review; medical certifier; death record; Minnesota Rules part 4601.1800; death certificate; fees