Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

Health and Human Services Finance Division

FORTY-FIRST MEETING

2019-2020 Regular Session - Thursday, September 26, 2019

STATE OF MINNESOTA FORTY-FIRST MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-FIRST SESSION

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FINANCE DIVISION

MINUTES

Representative Liebling, Chair of the Division, called the meeting to order at 1:11 P.M. on September 26, 2019 in Room 200 of the State Office Building.

The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.

Members present:
LIEBLING, Tina, Chair
SCHOMACKER, Joe, Lead Republican
ACOMB, Patty
BIERMAN, Robert
CANTRELL, Hunter
FRANSON, Mary
GRUENHAGEN, Glenn
HALEY, Barb
HALVERSON, Laurie
LOEFFLER, Diane
MORAN, Rena
MUNSON, Jeremy
NOOR, Mohamud
OLSON, Liz
SCHULTZ, Jennifer

Members excused:
MANN, Alice, Vice-Chair
BAKER, Dave
HAMILTON, Rod
KUNESH-PODEIN, Mary
ZERWAS, Nick

A quorum was present.

Attorney General Ellison presented an update on the Advisory Task Force on Lowering Pharmaceutical Drug Prices.

Representative Howard presented an update on the community conversations on insulin and the Alex Smith Emergency Insulin Act.

Testifying in support:
-Nicole Smith-Holt, Citizen Advocate
-Cindy Scherer Boyd, Citizen Advocate

Cody Wiberg, Executive Director, Minnesota Board of Pharmacy, responded to member questions.

Presenting Health Plan Updates on insulin co-pays for plan year 2020:
-Jay McLaren, Vice President, Public Policy and Government Relations, Medica
-Barbara Cox, Senior Director of Government Relations, HealthPartners
-Ghita Worcester, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs and Chief Marketing Officer, UCare
-Lin Nelson, Director of Legislative Affairs, Chief Lobbyist, BlueCross and BlueShield

The meeting was adjourned at 3:24 P.M.



________________________________________________________
Representative Tina Liebling, Chair


________________________________________________________
Krysta Niedernhöfer, Committee Legislative Assistant

More Info On This Meeting..
Bills Added:
  • HF485 (Howard) - Pharmaceutical assistance program established, insulin assistance account in the special revenue fund established, fees and penalties established, and money appropriated.
Documents:
House TV Video:
View Archive

01:58 - Update on Advisory Task Force on Lowering Pharmaceutical Drug Prices.
- Attorney General Keith Ellison.
01:56 - Update on Community Conversations and Alec Smith Insulin bill.
- Representative Michael Howard (DFL-Richfield).
- Nicole Smith-Holt.
- Cindy Scherer Boyd.
1:37:16 - Health plan updates on insulin co-pays for Plan Year 2020.
- Medica: Jay McLaren, Vice President, Public Policy & Government Relations.
- HealthPartners: Barbara Cox, Senior Director of Government Relations.
- UCare: Ghita Worcester, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs & Chief Marketing Office.
- BlueCross and BlueShield of Minnesota: Lin Nelson, Director of Legislative Affairs, Chief Lobbyist.
Runs 2 hours, 13 minutes.


I. Advisory Task Force on Lowering Pharmaceutical Drug Prices Update: Keith Ellison, Attorney General, State of Minnesota

II. Update on Community Conversations and Alec Smith Emergency Insulin Act: Rep. Michael Howard
a. Testifiers:
i. Nicole Smith-Holt
ii. Cindy Scherer Boyd

III. Member Discussion

IV. Health Plan Updates on Insulin Co-Pays for Plan Year 2020
a. Medica: Jay McLaren, Vice President, Public Policy & Government Relations
b. HealthPartners: Barbara Cox, Senior Director of Government Relations
c. UCare: Ghita Worcester, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs & Chief Marketing Officer
d. BlueCross and BlueShield of Minnesota: Lin Nelson, Director of Legislative Affairs, Chief Lobbyist