SF 485

3rd Engrossment - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to health care; creating a study group to make recommendations on the
creation and operation of a voluntary, statewide health plan purchasing pool;
appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.
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new text begin The legislature finds that:
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new text begin (1) health plan purchasing pools reduce health care costs, improve access to health
care, allow greater choice, and provide continuity of care;
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new text begin (2) large health plan purchasing pools can realize economies of scale, thereby
lowering administrative and operating costs; their significant market presence allows them
to negotiate more effectively to obtain comprehensive coverage at competitive rates; and
their size makes it easier to attract and retain enrollees; and
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new text begin (3) the creation of a large health care purchasing pool that is a public entity and that
offers direct contracting with providers has a greater capacity to serve the public interest
than other forms of organization.
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new text begin The legislature further finds that the creation of a large statewide health plan
purchasing pool is an economical and efficient tool to address the state's current health
care accessibility and affordability concerns.
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Sec. 2. new text begin HEALTH PLAN PURCHASING POOL STUDY GROUP.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Creation; membership. new text end

new text begin (a) A health plan purchasing pool study
group is created to study and make recommendations regarding the creation of a voluntary,
statewide health plan purchasing pool that would contract directly with providers to
provide affordable health coverage to eligible Minnesota residents. The study group is
composed of:
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new text begin (1) three members of the senate appointed by the Subcommittee on Committees of
the Committee on Rules and Administration, including one member of the minority;
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new text begin (2) three members of the house of representatives, two from the majority party
appointed by the speaker of the house, and one from the minority party appointed by the
minority leader of the house of representatives;
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new text begin (3) the attorney general or the attorney general's designated representative;
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new text begin (4) three representatives of health care providers appointed as follows:
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new text begin (i) one member appointed by the governor;
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new text begin (ii) one member appointed by the speaker of the house; and
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new text begin (iii) one member appointed by the Subcommittee on Committees of the senate
Committee on Rules and Administration;
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new text begin (5) one member selected by the American Federation of State, County, and
Municipal employees;
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new text begin (6) one member selected by the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees;
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new text begin (7) one member selected by Education Minnesota;
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new text begin (8) one member selected by the Minnesota Business Partnership; and
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new text begin (9) one member selected by the Metropolitan Interdependent Business Organization.
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new text begin All appointments to be made under this subdivision must be made within 30 days of the
effective date of this act.
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new text begin (b) The attorney general or the attorney general's designee shall convene the first
meeting of the study group. The study group shall select its chair at the first meeting.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Study; report. new text end

new text begin The study group shall study and make recommendations
on the following issues related to the creation, maintenance, and funding of a voluntary,
statewide health plan purchasing pool to provide comprehensive, cost-effective, and
medically appropriate health coverage to all public and private employees in Minnesota
and all Minnesota residents:
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new text begin (1) the creation of an independent public entity to administer the pool;
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new text begin (2) eligibility and participation requirements for existing public and private health
care purchasing pools, public and private employers, and residents of this state;
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new text begin (3) how to contract directly with providers to provide comprehensive coverage for
preventive, mental health, dental and other medical services, and comprehensive drug
benefits to enrollees and maximize the cost savings and other efficiencies that a large
purchasing pool would be expected to generate without the need for a public subsidy;
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new text begin (4) provisions that allow the pool to contract directly with health care providers
to provide coverage to enrollees;
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new text begin (5) incentives designed to attract and retain the maximum number of enrollees;
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new text begin (6) recommendations for the administration of the pool and the plans that will be
available to enrollees including, but not limited to, recommendations to keep the pool
solvent and profitable so that public subsidies are not necessary; and
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new text begin (7) other elements the study group concludes are necessary or desirable for the
pool to possess.
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new text begin The study group shall submit its report and the draft legislation necessary to
implement its recommendations to the chairs of the legislative committees and divisions
with jurisdiction over health care policy and finance, the Health Care Access Commission,
and the governor by February 1, 2008.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Staffing. new text end

new text begin State agencies shall assist the study group with any requests for
information the study group considers necessary to complete the study and report under
subdivision 2.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Removal; vacancies; expenses. new text end

new text begin Removal of members, vacancies, and
expenses for members shall be as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Expiration. new text end

new text begin This section expires after the submission of the report as
required in subdivision 2.
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Sec. 3. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $....... is appropriated from the general fund to the Legislative Coordinating
Commission for the biennium ending June 30, 2009, for staff support and expenses for the
health plan purchasing pool study group.
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Sec. 4. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
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new text begin This act is effective the day following final enactment.
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