Health benefit mandates evaluated

Mandated health benefits are a boon to some but a burden to others, including the self-insured and small-business owners who must weigh costs against the benefits of providing employees with insurance.

HF926, sponsored by Rep. Steve Gottwalt (R-St. Cloud), would require any new proposed health benefit mandates be evaluated by the commerce commissioner within 30 days of a request. It would apply only to health benefits in statute or included in bills, not in amendments or likely to be introduced in a bill.

The House Commerce and Regulatory Reform Committee approved the bill April 7. A companion, SF880, sponsored by Sen. Michelle Benson (R-Ham Lake), awaits action by the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee.

Gottwalt said the bill is intended to ensure that any new health care mandates are necessary. He said Minnesota has the second largest number of health care mandates in the nation.

The bill also would direct the commissioner to examine existing state benefit mandates in light of federally defined essential health benefits within 180 days after they are promulgated.

Rep. Joe Atkins (DFL-Inver Grove Heights) introduced, and later withdrew, two amendments related to a state health insurance exchange that could benefit individuals and small employers. One was HF497, which Gottwalt sponsors, awaiting action by the House Health and Human Services Reform Committee.

“I simply want to make sure we pass an exchange bill this year so that we don’t leave it up to the federal government to impose a health insurance exchange on Minnesota,” Atkins said.

Gottwalt said he was working with those who wanted further input. “We’ll address it in our own time and way.” He said Jan. 1, 2013, is when the federal government will evaluate state exchange planning, and Jan. 1, 2014, is when they would step in to implement a federal plan if a state plan isn’t in the works.