Sen. Draheim, MN Senate pass health care reform bills

Authored by Sen. Draheim, proposals increase transparency, access, and affordability

Senator Rich Draheim (R-Madison Lake) joined his Senate colleagues in overwhelmingly passing a series of bipartisan bills that reform health care through increased price transparency, access, and affordability. The comprehensive approach includes two proposals chief-authored by Senator Draheim that passed the Senate a combined 133-1, virtually unanimously. The bipartisan bills (SF 131 and SF 13) increase transparency in health care pricing by requiring health care facilities to disclose often hidden fees, and require hospitals to provide patients an itemized description of their billed health care charges within 30 days of discharge.

“No one should have to spend months calling their doctor or hospital to get an explanation of their charges,” said Senator Draheim. “They should be presented up front, just like when you take your car in for repair or get an estimate for home repairs. Both of these bipartisan bills accomplish that.”

After passing the Senate, Senator Draheim’s facility fee disclosure legislation also passed the Minnesota House on a bipartisan vote. It now heads to Governor Walz for his signature. However, thus far, the House has failed to bring the other health care reform bills passed by the Senate to the House floor for an up or down vote.

Other bipartisan health care reform bills passed by the Senate include:

  • Reinsurance (SF 761)– Passed by the Senate on a bipartisan vote, the legislation renews Minnesota’s highly successful program signed into law in 2017 by Governor Mark Dayton that lowered health insurance rates for Minnesotans on the individual market by at least 20 percent.
  • Direct primary care (SF 277) – Passed unanimously by the Senate, the bipartisan bill creates a framework for a flexible, new way for doctors and patients to work together without insurance middlemen.
  • Minnesota Pharmacy Benefit Manager Licensure and Regulation Act (SF 278) – Passed unanimously by the Senate, the bipartisan legislation aims to increase transparency and affordability in pharmaceuticals.