The proposed bill establishes the Minnesota Health Plan, designed to ensure that all residents of Minnesota have access to affordable health care. It creates the Minnesota Health Board, the Minnesota Health Fund, and an Office of Health Quality and Planning, along with an ombudsman for patient advocacy. The plan mandates comprehensive coverage for necessary medical services, allows patients to choose their providers, and emphasizes preventive care. Funding will be based on residents' ability to pay, eliminating co-pays and reducing administrative costs. The bill also outlines eligibility criteria, covering all Minnesota residents, including those temporarily out of state and nonresidents employed in Minnesota, and includes provisions for presumptive eligibility in emergencies.

Additionally, the bill details the governance and operational structure of the Minnesota Health Plan, including the establishment of regional health planning boards and a conflict of interest committee. It emphasizes the importance of retraining for workers potentially displaced by administrative efficiencies and mandates that the chief executive officer and other key personnel avoid conflicts of interest. The bill also creates an auditor general for health care fraud and abuse, streamlining rulemaking processes by exempting the Minnesota Health Plan's policies from the Administrative Procedure Act. Overall, the legislation aims to create a comprehensive, equitable health care system for all Minnesota residents, with a fully functional plan required within two years of enactment.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 13.3806, 14.03, 15A.0815