Paul T. Anderson
State Senator

Senator Anderson joins fellow Senators to push for low, transparent health care pricing

                                

This week, Sen. Anderson joined my Senate colleagues in promoting several key pieces of legislation that focus on making prices for common health care services clear and transparent to the average consumer, avoiding hidden costs, and saving people money on prescription drugs. The proposals are the latest step our continued effort to lower Minnesotans’ health care costs.

The proposed legislation includes:

• S.F. 3033 – Requires health care providers to post transparent prices for their twenty-five most commonly billed services and procedures in the reception area of the clinic and on their website.

• S.F. 3480 – Requires health care providers and health insurance plans to provide a good faith estimate of the total health care costs a patient will be required to pay for a visit.

• S.F. 2746  – Requires health care providers to disclose hidden facility fees a patient might be required to pay for services or procedures.

• S.F. 2836 – Saves consumers money on prescription drugs by allowing pharmacists to inform consumers when the cash cost of a prescription is less than the insured cost.

Two of the proposals require health care providers and health insurance plans to provide clear cost estimates to consumers. S.F. 3480 allows consumers to request a good faith estimate for expected services, which health care providers and health insurance plans are required to provide within ten days. S.F. 3033 requires health care providers to publicly post pricing for their most commonly billed evaluation, management, and preventative services. The price list must include the provider’s cash pay rate, the insurance reimbursement rate, the Medicare rate, and the Medical Assistance rate for each item.

Another proposal puts an end to hidden “facility fees” that patients are often unaware of when they receive services. For example, two competing clinics may charge similar rates for a procedure, but if one also charges a facility fee, then the out-of-pocket cost of the procedure may be significantly higher at that clinic. S.F. 2746 guarantees patients understand what they’re being charged by requiring disclosure of facility fees up-front.

The last bill lowers the out-of-pocket cost of prescription drugs for consumers by lifting the pharmacy gag rule. The gag rule is a common clause in pharmacy contracts that prevents pharmacists from telling consumers when a drug could be purchased cheaper with cash instead of billing through insurance. Under S.F. 2836, consumers will save money by allowing pharmacists to provide the best possible price for a prescription.

Reforms passed last year were successful in stabilizing Minnesota’s individual health insurance market and lowering the cost of insurance premiums below the national average, while other states saw significant premium increases.

You can read more and watch the press conference here.

Tax conformity and reform

One of the biggest legislative priorities for 2018 is tax conformity and reform. It is important to distinguish that Minnesota taxpayers are subject to two separate tax codes – the federal code set by lawmakers in Washington D.C., and the Minnesota state tax code set by the legislature in St. Paul. While those codes and laws are separate, the state relies on many of the definitions and calculations used in the federal code to determine Minnesota state taxes. When the federal government recently made significant changes in their tax code, it impacted our state taxes. As a result, Minnesota state income taxes will be unintentionally raised on some individuals.

To avoid unintentionally raising taxes, Minnesota must conform and reform its state tax code with the federal changes. If we conform and reform, not only will we simplify tax filing for all Minnesotans, but we will protect the pocketbooks of citizens across the state from new taxes and continue to grow our state’s economy. The legislature will be rolling out a comprehensive tax bill in the coming weeks.

Just as the legislature’s goal in tax reform will be fairness, I have been working with the Cities of Plymouth and Maple Grove, and am chief-authoring a bill that would ensure those cities are treated fairly regarding Hennepin County’s newly implemented Transit Sales Tax.

Last June, a majority of the Hennepin County Board agreed to create a half-cent sales tax in Hennepin County aimed at supporting county transit and transportation projects. The board also approved a $20 tax on new car sales to replace a similar Counties Transit Improvement Board tax.

Despite Plymouth and Maple Grove comprising 12% of the Hennepin County tax base, very little of the transportation sales tax monies collected by the county are directed to either community because the revenue is earmarked primarily for transit projects.

My bill would return a portion of the half-cent cent sales tax collected in the respective cities for transportation projects to fund county road and bridge projects. From 2013-2022, Hennepin County’s Capital Improvement Program allocates less than 1% of transportation spending for needed county projects in Plymouth and Maple Grove. With many major transportation projects unfunded in those communities, this legislation would not only ensure fairness, but safer roads for our communities.

I am also chief-authoring bipartisan legislation to provide a sales tax emption for the construction of a new fire station in Minnetonka. The exemption would also extend to the remodeling and expansion of the existing police and fire station for its conversion to the new police department facility. The sales tax exemption is for all materials and supplies used in the construction of these projects.

My bill would provide the City of Minnetonka with up to $850,000 in tax relief. The project is estimated to cost $25 million in total. The new public safety facilities will provide essential services to keep the residents of Minnetonka and the surrounding community safe, as well as meet the expanding needs of the Minnetonka Police and Fire Departments. The tax emption is an integral component in completing the project.

Investment in roads, bridges, and infrastructure

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT) released their 2018 state road construction projects. You can find the full list here. The list does not include projects funded by the Corridors of Commerce program, nor additional projects the Legislature may fund this year. Locally, MNDOT plans to resurface Highway 7 between Baker Road in Plymouth, and Louisiana Avenue in St. Louis Park. Set to begin this spring, the project will provide a smoother ride, extend the life of the pavement, replace storm drains and culverts, improve sidewalk and bike access, replace traffic signals, and other repairs. You can read more about this specific project here.

Another local traffic project for 2018 will be the construction of turn lanes, installation of signal poles, and sidewalk improvements to Highway 7 from Vine Hill Road in Shorewood, to Hwy 101 in Minnetonka. The project is designed to improve traffic flow and safety around Minnetonka High School. You can read more about the project here.

In addition to these projects, the Legislature intends to invest significantly in our state’s roads, bridges, and essential infrastructure through a “bonding bill” in 2018. Last session, the Legislature passed the largest ongoing commitment to road and bridge funding in nearly a decade. Further, $300 million was committed to transportation funding as part of a 2017 bonding bill that invested $997 million in critical infrastructure statewide. However, more needs to be done. It is expected that the Senate Bonding Committee will increase its meeting schedule once the legislature returns to action this coming week.

Personally, I am chief-authoring a bipartisan bill to replace the bridge and interchange at Rockford Road (County Road 9) and I-494 in Plymouth. With nearly 40,000 vehicles per-day traveling over the 52-year-old bridge, congestion and public safety are a major concern. Last fall, members of the Senate Bonding and Transportation Committees and I toured the bridge with Plymouth Mayor Kelli Slavik and other city officials. For news coverage of the visit, click here.

The City of Plymouth and Hennepin County will host an open house 3:30-6 p.m. Tuesday, April 17 at Plymouth City Hall, 3400 Plymouth Blvd., to share preliminary plans for replacing the County Road 9 (Rockford Road) Bridge over Interstate 494 and improving the intersection. For more information on the open house, you can find it here.

Senator Anderson helps welcome home American Heroes from Honor Flight

                                   

On Saturday, April 7, I had the honor and opportunity to once again participate in the homecoming of an Honor Flight.

Hundreds of people turned out at Terminal 2, to welcome over 50 World War II and Korean War Veterans home after their Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.

This was the 20th Honor Flight trip from the Twin Cities (Veterans from all across MN) since 2005.

Jerry Kyser (pictured) is one of the special people I’ve had an honor to work with over the years. He and his wife, Jana, give selflessly of their time, talents and treasures to truly honor our American Heroes in this special way.

Honor Flight Twin Cities offers free flights to World War II and Korean Veterans to Washington D.C. to see their Monuments. It’s a wonderful experience for the Veterans, packed all in one day (they leave MSP at 5:30 am and return around 10:00 pm).

If you can attend a welcome home, or support this wonderful organization, I encourage you to do so. Our Veterans deserve our eternal debt of gratitude for their service and sacrifice to our country.

As a nation, we must never forget that freedom is not free.

http://www.honorflighttwincities.org

Senator Anderson meets with University of Minnesota Student Government Leader

                                   

Sen. Anderson met with U of M student Catalina Anampa from Minnetonka to discuss her experiences as a student at the campus as well as her involvement in student government at the U. A graduate of Hopkins High School, Ms. Anampa will graduate early due to earning college credits while still in high school through Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO).

MN House High School Pages meet with Senator Anderson

                                

Sen. Anderson had the opportunity to meet with ten high school pages on Tuesday, April 10, who were selected to work with the Minnesota House of Representatives for a week of the 2018 legislative session. Throughout the course of their week at the State Capitol, High School Page Program participants are exposed to a wide variety of experiences, designed to provide them with a deep understanding of our state government.

The Minnesota House of Representatives High School Page Program is open to all Minnesota high school students in their Junior year. For more information on the High School Page Program, and how to apply, click here.

Minnesota Senate Building, Office 2103

My office is located in the Minnesota Senate Building, Office 2103.

One of the great responsibilities serving as your state senator is assisting constituents with issues with state agencies, questions on legislation, and planning visits to the State Capitol.

Please contact my office at (651) 296-9261 anytime if I can be helpful.

Minnesota Senate Committee Assignments, 2017-2018 Biennium, Ninetieth Legislature

It is an honor to serve as the Vice Chairman of the Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy Committee. In addition, I am also serving as a member of the following Committees: E-12 Finance, E-12 Policy, Higher Education Finance and Policy, and Taxes.

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