MMA urged Governor to sign health care reform bill
MINNEAPOLIS, May 13, 2008—The MMA urged Governor Tim Pawlenty to sign the health care reform bill approved by both the House and Senate late at night on May 12.
The conference committee bill, which reconciled differences between the House and Senate health care reform bills, was approved by an 83-50 vote in the House and by 53-13 in the Senate.
“The Minnesota Legislature is to be commended for passing historic health care reform legislation,” said James J. Dehen Jr., M.D., president of the MMA.
Dehen said that the bill moves Minnesota closer to the vision outlined in the MMA’s Physicians’ Plan for a Healthy Minnesota.
Gov. Pawlenty has threatened to veto the bill, which calls for eligibility increases for state health care programs he has characterized as too costly. The governor has proposed using the Health Care Access Fund to balance the state’s budget.
During the past several weeks, the issue of payment reform has generated significant controversy. This bill does NOT include the controversial payment scheme known as “level 3” payment reform, which was strongly opposed by the MMA.
Medical Home. The bill supports the medical home model -- coordinating care primarily for patients with complex, chronic conditions. It calls for a care coordination fee that is based on the complexity of the patient’s needs and a reimbursement increase for primary care physicians serving in areas where the Office of Rural Health says they are badly needed. “This reform will focus on chronic illness where most health care dollars are spent and where there are the most opportunities to improve people’s health and save money,” James J. Dehen Jr., M.D., president of the MMA.
Public health. The bill will provide statewide grants for programs aimed at reducing obesity and tobacco use. These efforts will encourage people to make changes in their behavior that will prevent disease and, in the long run, it will save money. “This is not an overnight solution, but a financial investment in a healthy future for Minnesota,” said Dehen.
Move toward Universal Coverage. Increasing eligibility for state programs moves toward the goal of having all Minnesotans insured. The bill increases eligibility, modifies the affordability standard and makes it easier to renew enrollment. The expansions to public programs would be funded within the limits of the Health Care Access Fund, which was established for the purpose of programs to improve access to care for low-income Minnesotans.
Cost & Quality Transparency. The legislation directs the commissioner of health to develop uniform and valid methodology for calculating providers’ combined performance on cost and quality and to promote payment reform that rewards quality and efficiency.
Payment. The bill directs the commissioner of health to establish definitions for at least 15 baskets of care and suggests that they include coronary artery and heart disease, diabetes, asthma, and depression. The single price concept is voluntary and does not apply to Workers’ Comp, no-fault auto, and “a payer being a governmental entity.”
The MMA sent out a news release supporting the bill and MMA leaders have talked to reporters. On Tuesday, May 13, a Star Tribune editorial titled, "Three must-do items on the Capitol docket," counted the health reform package as one of the three must-do bills, and congratulated the bipartisan work that went into preparing legislators for the idea of major reform.
The editorial quoted Robert Meiches, M.D., CEO of the MMA, who had been part of the behind-the-scenes advocacy, describing the reform package as "historic."
Conference committee bill