Health Care Proposals Moving Through the Legislature

Dear Neighbors,

Access to affordable health care and prescription medication continues to be a top bipartisan priority this session. As a member of the Health and Human Services Finance Committee, I’m working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to find and enact solutions to bring costs down while enhancing quality of care.

Here’s an update on some of the proposals moving through the Legislature:

Insulin Update

On the first day of session, the House Commerce Committee approved and advanced the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act. Although there are still differences between the House and Senate’s bills, I’ll keep advocating for the emergency access component to be a part of any final measure. Currently, the Senate’s version includes a $75 copay as a partial funding mechanism for an emergency insulin access program, which is still too expensive. Our House plan would ask pharmaceutical manufacturers to pitch in a small portion of their profits to help get an emergency program up and running so nobody has to ration or forgo their insulin.

Shari Wiltrout, the mother of two type-one diabetic teenage daughters, displays a one month supply of their insulin, and the amount of cash that it costs, during her testimony on HF3100 in the House Commerce Committee Feb. 11. Photo by Paul Battaglia

Pharmaceutical Drug Pricing Press Conference

After nearly one year of public study and deliberation, Minnesota Attorney General Ellison’s Advisory Task Force on Lowering Pharmaceutical Drug Prices has released a report and 14 recommendations for lowering prescription drug prices. Although I was not officially serving on the task force, I attended all the meetings over the summer and fall to monitor their progress. Yesterday, we held a press conference to roll out the recommendations, which focus on:

• Making overly complex, opaque, and dysfunctional markets work better for people;
• Using public power to make drugs more affordable and accessible, especially life-saving ones; and
• Requiring more transparency and accountability in the pharmaceutical-drug market.

Doctors Caucus

The ‘Doctors Caucus’ is a bipartisan, bicameral group of four legislators who are practicing physicians. My colleagues Rep. Mann and Morrison represent the House delegation of this caucus. Yesterday, they announced a plan to address rising prescription drug prices and improve access to health care. Their package of three bills would:

• Create a Pharmacy Affordability Commission of appointed personnel who would periodically review changes in drug pricing
• Provide direct relief for Minnesotans with high health insurance premiums through premium tax credits
• Expand access to mental health services by requiring health insurance policies to cover a defined number of mental health visits each year

You can learn more here.

Health Support for our Hometown Heroes

I was honored to join my colleagues and stand alongside survivors and advocates to announce bipartisan legislation that would deliver additional support for Minnesota firefighters who face higher rates of cancer, cardiac issues and trauma.

These brave individuals deserve the support they need to continue the important work they do to keep us all safe.

Keep in Touch

Please contact me anytime at 651-296-5506 with ideas on how we can lower health care costs, or any issue that’s important to you. I welcome all input.

If you’re interested in receiving additional updates from the Capitol, follow me on my official Facebook page.

It’s an honor to represent you in St. Paul!

Sincerely,

Robert Bierman

State Representative