2004 Minnesota Statutes

     62J.322 Provider information pilot study. 

    The commissioner shall develop a pilot study to collect 
 comparative data from health care providers on opportunities and 
 barriers to the provision of quality, cost-effective health 
 care.  The provider information pilot study shall include 
 providers in community integrated service networks, health 
 maintenance organizations, preferred provider organizations, 
 indemnity insurance plans, public programs, and other health 
 plan companies.  Health plan companies and group purchasers 
 shall provide to the commissioner providers' names, health plan 
 assignment, and other appropriate data necessary for the 
 commissioner to conduct the study.  The provider information 
 pilot study shall examine factors that increase and hinder 
 access to the provision of quality, cost-effective health care.  
 The study may examine: 

    (1) administrative barriers and facilitators; 

    (2) time spent obtaining permission for appropriate and 
 necessary treatments; 

    (3) latitude to order appropriate and necessary tests, 
 pharmaceuticals, and referrals to specialty providers; 

    (4) assistance available for decreasing administrative and 
 other routine paperwork activities; 

    (5) continuing education opportunities provided; 

    (6) access to readily available information on diagnoses, 
 diseases, outcomes, and new technologies; 

    (7) continuous quality improvement activities; 

    (8) inclusion in administrative decision making; 

    (9) access to social services and other services that 
 facilitate continuity of care; 

    (10) economic incentives and disincentives; 

    (11) peer review procedures; and 

    (12) the prerogative to address public health needs. 

    In selecting additional data for collection, the 
 commissioner shall consider the:  (i) statistical validity of 
 the data; (ii) public need for the data; (iii) estimated expense 
 of collecting and reporting the data; and (iv) usefulness of the 
 data to identify barriers and opportunities to improve quality 
 care provision within health plan companies. 

    HIST: 1995 c 234 art 5 s 9; 1997 c 225 art 2 s 62