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HF 478

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.

Current Version - as introduced

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A bill for an act
relating to health; providing for a universal health care system that provides
affordable access to high quality medical care for all Minnesotans; requiring
a focus on preventive care and early intervention; providing comprehensive
benefits; reducing costs through prevention, efficiency, and elimination of
bureaucracy; directing the commissioner of health to prepare a plan to be
implemented by 2010; proposing an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution,
article XIII, by adding a section, affirming that every resident of Minnesota has
the right to affordable, comprehensive health care; proposing coding for new
law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 144.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.
new text end

new text begin (a) All people deserve quality health care, yet an increasing number of Minnesota
families are unable to pay for coverage.
new text end

new text begin (b) Many seniors find that Medicare, which promised health care in their retirement,
does not provide needed coverage without costly Medicare supplemental policies and,
even then, many cannot receive care.
new text end

new text begin (c) Many workers do not earn enough to pay for health care; as a result, they do not
receive preventive care and put off necessary treatment for themselves and their families
until the medical condition becomes acute, requiring more costly treatment.
new text end

new text begin (d) Many people are forced, against their wishes, to switch from their personal
doctors, clinics, and hospitals, not based on medical need, but because they switched jobs
or their employer switched health plans. This replaces doctors who have their trust with
new providers who do not know their medical history. Loss of continuity of care can put
health at risk and wastes the time and resources of both doctors and patients.
new text end

new text begin (e) The lack of universal care has particularly serious consequences for the
uninsured, but it also creates extra hardship and risks for many people with health care
coverage and more expenses for the public.
new text end

new text begin (f) The lack of affordable care creates a huge burden on the Minnesota economy
through lost worker productivity, higher special education costs, the spread of preventable
infectious diseases, and skyrocketing long-term care expenses that could have been
prevented with affordable in-home care alternatives. Furthermore, taxpayer-funded
expenses for education, housing, health care, and crime prevention, including law
enforcement, prosecution, and corrections, are higher due to untreated chemical
dependency and mental illness.
new text end

new text begin (g) Insured patients and taxpayers end up paying costs to cover the underinsured
through cost-shifting when hospitals provide expensive emergency care for illnesses and
diseases that could have been prevented with routine preventive care.
new text end

new text begin (h) Bureaucratic paperwork for medical providers, insurers, patients, and government
agencies, which is used to determine eligibility and financial responsibility, currently
consumes more than one-fourth of all health care dollars in Minnesota. Additionally,
cost-shifting between third-party payers results in expensive gatekeepers aimed at
reducing financial responsibility and results in higher billing costs. A universal health care
system would reduce these expenses that do nothing to promote health.
new text end

new text begin (i) Providing a universal health care system would improve the quality of life for
all Minnesotans and would reduce overall costs to the public through prevention and
efficiency.
new text end

new text begin (j) A well-designed universal health care system would continue to promote
Minnesota's leadership in medical education, training, research, and technology and would
free medical providers to focus on providing quality care without needing to worry
whether the treatment or referrals they provide will be approved by the insurer and without
wasting unnecessary resources on billing.
new text end

new text begin (k) A well-designed universal health care system would free small employers from
wasting resources shopping for an affordable plan for their workers and would free
employees to seek employment that best uses their talents instead of seeking jobs based
on the employer's health benefits.
new text end

new text begin (l) A well-designed universal health care system would mean that patients would
be able to get needed treatment promptly, instead of going through numerous additional
doctor visits that are designed to deny care instead of provide it.
new text end

new text begin (m) It is in the public interest to establish a universal health care system for medical
and economic reasons. Because the federal government has not provided universal health
care, Minnesotans will not obtain such coverage unless the state develops a system on its
own.
new text end

new text begin (n) In order to develop a system that serves Minnesotans best, the system must:
new text end

new text begin (1) ensure that all Minnesotans receive high quality health care, regardless of
their income;
new text end

new text begin (2) allow patients the ability to choose their own providers;
new text end

new text begin (3) hold down costs, not by restricting or denying coverage or reducing the quality
of care, but through prevention, efficiency, and elimination of bureaucracy;
new text end

new text begin (4) provide comprehensive benefits, including complete mental health services,
chemical dependency treatment, prescription drugs, medical equipment and supplies,
dental care, long-term care, and home care services;
new text end

new text begin (5) be funded through premiums and other payments based on the person's ability
to pay, so as not to deny full access to all Minnesotans;
new text end

new text begin (6) focus on preventive care and early intervention;
new text end

new text begin (7) provide an adequate number of qualified health care professionals and facilities
to guarantee timely access to quality care throughout the state; and
new text end

new text begin (8) continue promoting Minnesota's leadership in medical education, training,
research, and technology.
new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin [144.7055] UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Commissioner's working group. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of health
shall establish a working group to design a universal health care system for Minnesota.
The commissioner shall prepare proposed legislation for submission to the legislature by
January 31, 2008, to establish a universal health care system for Minnesota to take effect
in January 2010. The proposed legislation must meet all of the requirements specified in
subdivision 2.
new text end

new text begin (b) The working group shall include medical providers, patients, and representatives
of employers and employees in preparing the proposed universal health care system.
new text end

new text begin (c) The working group is governed by section 15.059, subdivision 6, and expires
January 31, 2008.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Requirements for universal health care system. new text end

new text begin The commissioner's
proposal to the legislature under subdivision 1 shall be designed in a manner that:
new text end

new text begin (1) ensures all Minnesotans receive high quality health care, regardless of their
income;
new text end

new text begin (2) allows patients the ability to choose their own providers;
new text end

new text begin (3) does not restrict or deny care or reduce the quality of care to hold down costs, but
instead reduces costs through prevention, efficiency, and elimination of bureaucracy;
new text end

new text begin (4) provides comprehensive benefits, including all coverage currently required by
law, complete mental health services, chemical dependency treatment, prescription drugs,
medical equipment and supplies, dental care, long-term care, and home care services;
new text end

new text begin (5) is funded through premiums and other payments based on the person's ability
to pay, so as not to deny full access to all Minnesotans;
new text end

new text begin (6) focuses on preventive care and early intervention to improve the health of all
Minnesotans and reduce later costs from untreated illnesses and diseases;
new text end

new text begin (7) ensures an adequate number of qualified health care professionals and facilities
to guarantee timely access to quality care throughout the state;
new text end

new text begin (8) continues promoting Minnesota's leadership in medical education, training,
research, and technology; and
new text end

new text begin (9) provides adequate and timely payments to providers.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROPOSED.
new text end

new text begin An amendment to the Minnesota Constitution, article XIII, by adding a section, is
proposed to the people. If the amendment is adopted, the section will read as follows:
new text end

new text begin Sec. 13. new text end

new text begin Every Minnesota resident has the right to comprehensive health care. It is the
responsibility of the governor and the legislature to implement all necessary legislation
to ensure affordable health care.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin SUBMISSION TO VOTERS.
new text end

new text begin The proposed amendment must be submitted to the people at the 2008 general
election. If approved, it is effective January 1, 2010. The question submitted shall be:
new text end

new text begin "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to state that, effective January 1,
2010, every resident of Minnesota has the right to comprehensive health care and that it is
the responsibility of the governor and the legislature to implement all necessary legislation
to ensure affordable, comprehensive health care?
new text end

new text begin Yes .......
new text end
new text begin No ......."
new text end

Sec. 5. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end

new text begin Section 2 is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end