The proposed bill establishes the Minnesota Health Plan, designed to ensure that all Minnesota residents have access to affordable health care. Key features of the plan include the creation of the Minnesota Health Board, the Minnesota Health Fund, and an Office of Health Quality and Planning, along with an ombudsman for patient advocacy. The bill mandates comprehensive coverage for necessary medical services, allows patients to choose their providers, and emphasizes preventive care. Funding for the plan will come from premiums based on residents' ability to pay, eliminating co-pays and reducing administrative costs. It 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 introduces a governance structure for the Minnesota Health Plan, with the Minnesota Health Board overseeing its administration and ensuring high-quality, coordinated health care services. The board will consist of 15 members representing various stakeholders, and the Minnesota Health Fund will be managed separately from the state treasury. The legislation eliminates cost-sharing for covered benefits, ensuring no deductibles or co-payments for patients. It also establishes regional health planning boards and emphasizes ethics and conflict of interest standards for individuals involved in the plan's administration. An auditor general for health care fraud will be appointed to investigate misconduct, and the bill requires the Minnesota Health Plan to be fully operational within two years of enactment, enhancing accountability and consumer protection.

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