An Essential Community Provider (ECP) is a health care provider that serves high-risk, special needs, and underserved individuals. In order to be designated as an ECP, a provider must demonstrate that it meets the requirements of Minnesota Statutes 62Q.19 and Minnesota Rules Chapter 4688. Those regulations require that ECPs:

• Provide or coordinate supportive and stabilizing services, such as transportation, child care, linguistic services, and culturally sensitive and competent services to its clients.
• Serve all patients, regardless of their financial limitations.
• Charge patients for their services based on a sliding fee schedule, if the ECP is a non-profit organization.

The Minnesota Department of Health designates ECPs. Health plan companies must offer provider contracts to all designated ECPs in their service areas.