Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Here is the latest news from the Capitol.
Step Therapy Legislation
Testifying on House File 3196 in committee last week.
This session, I am carrying legislation to improve patient protection and reform step therapy. Step therapy is a measure that helps health insurance companies hold down costs, requiring patients to try less expensive alternative or generic brand drugs before the insurer will cover a more expensive medication prescribed by a provider. While it’s important to hold down health care costs, this process can also be harmful to patients, especially those which chronic diseases who often face lengthy delays before receiving the medication they need.
I have worked with a wide coalition of health care and patient groups to find a compromise that will reform step therapy in Minnesota and better serve patients. House File 3196, which moved through committee last week, will establish standards used by insurers and will create a clear override process for prescribing doctors to address situations where step therapy could be harmful to the health of a patient.
This is an important issue for thousands of Minnesotans, and I am pleased this legislation is advancing this session.
MNLARS Update
On Thursday, the House and Senate passed legislation to provide the first $9.6 million requested by the Dayton Administration to fix our disastrous licensing system, MNLARS. Taxpayers have already spent nearly $100 million on this failed program, and we cannot simply write a blank check to the Dayton Administration for this project, throwing more taxpayer money at the project without additional oversight.
This bill allows for fixes to continue on our MNLARS system, while implementing a number of oversight measures to ensure tax dollars are being spent wisely and work on the project will be regularly reviewed going forward.
Greater oversight, fiscal responsibility and accountability are critical as we continue to address our state’s MNLARS mess.
Around the Capitol
Greeting students from Valley Crossing School
New teachers who graduated from the Grow Your Own Program came to testify for my Grow Your Own bill.
Met with constituents for Bankers Day on the Hill
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As always, if you have ideas about what you would like to see happen this session or need assistance on a matter of state government, I welcome you to contact me. Please don’t hesitate to call (651-296-1147), email (rep.kelly.fenton@house.mn) or stop by my office.
Sincerely,
Kelly
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