Lowering the cost of health care, affordable childcare, & mental health among priorities

On the first day of the 2019 legislative session, Senator Rich Draheim (R-Madison Lake) joined his Minnesota Senate colleagues in unveiling their top priorities for the upcoming session, placing a focus on Minnesota families. Specifically, Senator Draheim focused on lowering the cost of health care through innovative price transparency legislation.

“During the last legislative session, I authored and passed into law bipartisan health care legislation that not only requires doctors to provide upon request a full faith estimate of health care costs to a patient, but also publicly post the costs of their top 25 most frequent procedures,” said Senator Draheim. “However, there is more work to be done. This session I will be introducing legislation that allows for Minnesotans to price shop for health care online. And, if they find cheaper care, they can split the savings with their insurance provider. It’s a win-win that should lower the cost of care for everyone.”

In addition to health care costs, Senator Draheim and his fellow legislators identified addressing our growing mental health crisis, ensuring access to affordable childcare, increased government accountability, and decreasing filing headaches by conforming Minnesota’s tax code to the federal government as top priorities. Further, Senator Draheim will introduce legislation this session to guarantee health care coverage for preexisting conditions.

“No Minnesotan should be denied health insurance because of a preexisting condition,” added Senator Draheim. “I will be introducing legislation this session that says exactly that. Minnesota families deserve to be protected and I will champion that cause.”