SF 3445

as introduced - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to health; requiring the commissioner of human services to study
the consolidation of all state-funded health care programs into a single
sliding-fee-ability-to-pay program; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin STATE HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS STUDY.
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new text begin The commissioner of human services, in consultation with the commissioners of
health and commerce, shall study the feasibility of consolidating all state-funded health
care programs, in order to facilitate the cost-effective administration and appropriate
provision of basic health care services to all Minnesotans. The study shall include:
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new text begin (1) determining the cost impact of state-funded health care program consolidation
and any savings that may result from consolidation;
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new text begin (2) determining the impact of state-funded health care program consolidation on
wages and compensation trends;
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new text begin (3) determining the impact of state-funded health care program consolidation on
current and future federal funding support for state health care programs;
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new text begin (4) assessing incorporation of a sliding-fee premium scale based solely on an
individual's or employee's ability to pay;
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new text begin (5) assessing whether employers should receive a Minnesota tax deduction for
enrolling qualified employees and pooling their premiums with the state;
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new text begin (6) using a transition period to implement health care program consolidation;
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new text begin (7) assessing the advisability of mandating payroll deduction for collecting
premiums;
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new text begin (8) assessing a mandate for cost sharing of premiums by both employer and
employee;
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new text begin (9) assessing a mandate for all Minnesota employers either to provide affordable
health insurance coverage through private enterprise entities or, failing that, through a
single consolidated health care program for employees:
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new text begin (i) where employees do not qualify for current employer sponsored health coverage;
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new text begin (ii) where no employer health insurance plan is offered; or
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new text begin (iii) where the available coverage is unaffordable;
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new text begin (10) assessing the advisability of using 400 percent of Minnesota's minimum wage
as the maximum income level to qualify for enrollment in a consolidated health care
program;
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new text begin (11) assessing the value, advisability, and feasibility of offering a consolidated
health care program to full- and part-time employees; and
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new text begin (12) assessing the advisability of strictly limiting a consolidated Minnesota health
care program to only those benefits mandated by the federal Medicaid program.
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new text begin The commissioner of human services shall submit a report to the legislature by
January 15, 2007.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $....... is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of human services
for fiscal year 2007 for the purposes in section 1.
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