The proposed bill establishes the Minnesota Health Plan, designed to ensure that all Minnesota residents 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, patient choice of providers, and a focus on preventive care, funded through income-based premiums while eliminating co-pays. Eligibility extends to all residents, including those temporarily out of state and nonresidents employed in Minnesota, with provisions for emergency presumptive eligibility. The Minnesota Health Fund will finance the plan, with strict guidelines for fund allocation and management.

Additionally, the bill outlines the governance structure of the Minnesota Health Plan, detailing the responsibilities of the Minnesota Health Board, which will oversee the plan's administration and ensure high-quality care. It prohibits cost-sharing for covered benefits and establishes a framework for reimbursement from collateral sources. The bill emphasizes conflict of interest standards, mandates the creation of a conflict of interest committee, and establishes an Ombudsman Office for Patient Advocacy. It also introduces an auditor general for health care fraud and abuse, streamlining rulemaking by exempting the plan's policies from the Administrative Procedure Act. The legislation aims to enhance accountability, transparency, and consumer protection within the Minnesota Health Plan framework, with a requirement for the plan to be fully operational within two years of enactment.

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