Bill includes premium relief, preservation of care, reforms to increase competition and choice
ST. PAUL, MN—The Minnesota House overwhelmingly approved the conference committee report for Senate File 1 Thursday on a vote of 108-19. The bill provides a 25 percent premium reduction to Minnesotans who do not qualify for MNsure tax credits on the individual market, and includes key GOP-led reforms to preserve care for those receiving life-saving treatments and increase competition and consumer choice moving forward. The bill passed the Senate earlier Thursday afternoon with bipartisan support, and is expected to be signed by the governor.
"We are keeping our promise to Minnesotans struggling to afford out-of-control health insurance costs, providing substantial premium relief for 2017, as well as implementing meaningful reforms to improve transparency, competition and care,” said Rep. Deb Kiel (R-Crookston). “I am pleased we were able to get this done in the first month of session for folks in our area who need premium relief and continued access to their health care providers.”
“Serving on the conference committee that helped craft the final version of this bill, I fought hard to keep a provision I spearheaded that can help improve in-network accessibility to local clinics, pharmacies and hospitals in rural Minnesota,” said Rep. Dan Fabian (R-Roseau). “MNsure and Obamacare have caused headaches and financial hardships for too many folks in our state, and this is the first-step to begin addressing Minnesota’s health care crisis.”
GOP-led reforms in the final bill include:
- Allowing for-profit HMOs to operate in Minnesota (like most states) which will increase options for consumers
- Modifying stop loss coverage to make it easier for more small businesses to offer affordable insurance to their employees.
- Providing greater transparency for proposed insurance premium changes by requiring earlier disclosure of proposed rates.
- Allowing Agricultural Cooperatives to offer group health insurance to their members so farmers and their families can get better access to care and more affordable coverage.
- Ensuring Minnesota employees can benefit from the recently passed federal 21st Century Cures Act which allows employers to make pre-tax contributions toward employee health insurance costs.
- Network adequacy reform that will assist in ensuring more options for residents in rural Minnesota.
- Prohibiting surprise billing to protect consumers from previously undisclosed costs.
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State Rep. Deb Kiel serves District 1B and State Rep. Dan Fabian serves District 1A