The proposed bill establishes the Minnesota Health Plan, designed to provide affordable and accessible health care for all residents of Minnesota. It creates the Minnesota Health Board, the Minnesota Health Fund, and an Office of Health Quality and Planning, which will oversee the administration and financial management of the health plan. Key features include comprehensive coverage for necessary medical services, patient choice of providers, and a focus on preventive care. The plan will be funded through income-based premiums, eliminating co-pays and reducing administrative costs. The bill also outlines eligibility criteria, benefits covered, and provisions for data privacy and patient advocacy through the establishment of an ombudsman.

Additionally, the bill introduces new regulations to ensure transparency and ethical governance within the Minnesota Health Plan. It prohibits conflicts of interest for key personnel, including the chief executive officer, and establishes a conflict of interest committee to oversee transactions involving the plan. The legislation also creates an auditor general for health care fraud and abuse, streamlining rulemaking by exempting the plan's policies from the Administrative Procedure Act. The operational timeline mandates that the Minnesota Health Plan be fully functional within two years of enactment, with appropriated funding for its initial implementation, ultimately aiming to enhance accountability and consumer protection in the state's health care system.

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