SF 1567

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 03/11/2025 09:17 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to health; establishing an office of patient protection; establishing
responsibilities of an office of patient protection; requiring reports; proposing
coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 62J.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [62J.97] OFFICE OF PATIENT PROTECTION.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The Office of Patient Protection is established to:
new text end

new text begin (1) assist consumers with issues related to access and quality of health care; and
new text end

new text begin (2) advise the legislature on ways to reduce consumer health care spending and improve
consumer experiences by reducing complexity for consumers.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Director. new text end

new text begin The governor shall appoint a director for the office. The director shall
be in the unclassified service and shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. The director
shall direct the office to fulfill its statutory responsibilities.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Organization. new text end

new text begin The office shall consist of a director of the Office of Patient
Protection as well as any staff necessary to carry out the office's responsibilities under
subdivision 4. The office is a distinct entity, separately identifiable from other state agencies,
and may not be engaged in the provision of health care or health insurance.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Responsibilities. new text end

new text begin The office shall:
new text end

new text begin (1) establish and implement procedures to assist consumers aggrieved by restrictions on
patient choice, denials of service, and reductions in quality of care resulting from any final
action by a payer or provider;
new text end

new text begin (2) work with private sector and state agency consumer assistance programs to directly
assist consumers with questions or concerns relating to public programs and private insurance
coverage;
new text end

new text begin (3) collect information about health plan company quality of care and patient satisfaction
information, and make information collected by the office reasonably accessible to consumers
on the office's website; and
new text end

new text begin (4) report to the legislature by February 15 of each year on the work of the office in the
previous calendar year and recommend any needed policy changes to improve consumer
experiences by reducing complexity for consumers.
new text end