Friends,

With this issue, I share with you a summary of some very exciting accomplishments regarding Health Care Cost Containment that were signed into law very recently.


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Health Care Reform Successes
2004 Legislative Session


The 2004 Legislative Session should go down in history as producing historic health care cost containment reforms. While the Senate DFL stonewalled progress in important areas like balancing the budget and producing a bonding bill, my Republican colleagues and I were busy pushing through significant health care reforms. Given that health care cost is one of the top citizen concerns in Minnesota, we should all celebrate our successes. Let me highlight.
1. Consumer Empowerment. We made policy modifications that bring our state into compliance with newly passed Health Savings Accounts federal legislation. HSA's will revolutionize our health care marketplace. Providers will be required to give good faith estimates and pharmacists will give consumers explanations of benefits.
2. Best Practices. The state of Minnesota will work with the provider community to assure that patients receive the latest evidence-based treatment.
3. Disease Management. As the largest purchaser of health care services in Minnesota, the state will apply best value treatments for chronic conditions.
4. Electronic Medical Records. Use of modern electronic technologies in medicine is one of the great hopes for improving quality and saving money. In partnership with the private stakeholders, state agencies will work to track progress, establish and use standards, and accelerate implementation.
5. Prescription Drugs. New laws will ensure Minnesota consumers access to pharmaceutical assistance programs and reduce inappropriate kickbacks. Explanation of benefits mentioned earlier will help us be more informed shoppers.
6. Purchasing Alliances. This legislation will help farmers, coops and small main street businesses access health insurance.
7. Health Plan Contracting. Better information and improved fairness between providers and health plans will be provided with this legislation.
8. Patient Safety and Consumer Information Act. This information extends quality improvement reporting and anti conflict of interest regulation to surgical centers and diagnostic imaging centers.
9. Hospital Development Review Process. The Department of Health will provide information and advice in requests for exceptions to the current hospital bed expansion moratorium.
10. Health Care Mandate. For the first time in history, the legislature actually repealed a current mandate.
11. Regulation Relief. Health plans will now be able to distribute reports to consumers if they agree. Duplicate state regulations will not be exercised if a federal requirement is already fulfilled. Final interviews for out of state doctors can be conducted by teleconference (Board of Medical Practice). A study of the costs of required health care reports will be conducted.
12. Birth Defects Information System. Important research information to reduce birth defects will be available with protections for personal privacy.
13. MCHA Reforms. Cost control measures for our high risk insurance pool
As most people know, I have been relentless in my pursuit of reforms to reduce the rate of health care cost inflation. There are no easy answers and the solutions are not all legislative. But, clearly, these historic reforms are the basis for continued emphasis on health care cost and quality.

For those who would like to learn more details, check HF 2277 for most of the elements. I would be happy to answer any questions and to visit with any group interested. Contact me at rep.fran.bradley@house.mn or 507-288-3439.

Representative Fran Bradley
4316 Manor View Dr NW
Rochester, MN 55901

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Representative Fran Bradley
4316 Manor View Dr NW
Rochester, MN 55901
507-288-3439
"franbradley1@charter.net"
www.franbradley.org

 

 

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