Authored by Sen. Jensen, bills fulfill promises to increase transparency, access, and affordability

Senator Scott Jensen (R-Chaska) joined his Senate colleagues in overwhelmingly passing a series of bipartisan bills that fulfill Republican Senate promises to reform health care through increased price transparency, access, and affordability. The comprehensive approach includes two proposals chief-authored by Senator Jensen: SF 277, a bipartisan bill that creates a framework for direct primary care in Minnesota; and SF 278, the bipartisan Minnesota Pharmacy Benefit Manager Licensure and Regulation Act. Both measures passed the Senate unanimously.

“Direct primary care is a flexible, new way for doctors and patients to work together without insurance middlemen,” said Senator Jensen, a practicing family physician. “I know firsthand the importance of the patient-doctor relationship, and this legislation is designed to grow that bond, lower the cost of care, and eliminate unnecessary barriers between a patient and the doctor they trust.”

In addition to direct primary care legislation, the Senate unanimously passed Senator Jensen’s bipartisan Minnesota Pharmacy Benefit Manager Licensure and Regulation Act. The bill aims to increase transparency and affordability in pharmaceuticals in our state.

“From insulin to epinephrine, the rising costs of prescription medications have stretched the budgets of Minnesota families across our state,” added Senator Scott Jensen. “We desperately need pharmaceutical reform. And, this bill is one of the largest reforms in Minnesota health care in recent memory. I am hopeful that the House of Representatives will address this legislation as a single subject bill and avoid the loss of transparency that comes with large omnibus bills.”

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.
• Health care facility fee disclosure (SF 131) – Passed unanimously by the Senate, the bill requires provider-based clinics to disclose facility fees to patients that may result in higher out-of-pocket costs. The facility must also post this information in visible locations and on their website.
• Hospital billing transparency (SF 13) – Passed overwhelmingly by the Senate on a bipartisan vote, the bill requires hospitals to provide patients an itemized description of their billed health care charges within 30 days of discharge.