Bill includes premium relief, preservation of care, reforms to increase competition and choice
ST. PAUL – The Minnesota House overwhelmingly approved a package of health insurance relief and reform on Thursday, sending it to the governor for his anticipated approval.
The package (S.F. 1), which passed the Senate earlier in the day, provides a 25-percent premium reduction to Minnesotans who do not qualify for MNsure tax credits on the individual market. It also includes key Republican-led reforms to preserve care for those receiving life-saving treatments and increase competition and consumer choice moving forward.
“Soaring premium rates received much publicity and it was important we address that problem, but other issues such as limited accessibility to care also needed to be fixed”,” said Rep. Bud Nornes, R-Fergus Falls. “There is more work to do, but the package we passed makes headway with a good number of reforms that will help improve health care for the long haul, independent of uncertainty that exists on this issue at the federal level.”
The bill passed both bodies with bipartisan support and Gov. Mark Dayton is expected to sign it.
“Today’s bill is a first step in a session-long effort to address the problems created by Obamacare and MNsure,” said House Speaker Kurt Daudt, R-Crown. “As the first month of session comes to a close, Republican majorities have shown an ability to get things done for Minnesotans and to work productively with the governor.”
Republican-led reforms in the final bill include:
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