Minnesota's Health Reform Initiative

In May 2008 Governor Pawlenty signed significant health care reform legislation into law. The reforms include recommendations from the Governor’s Health Care Transformation Task Force and the Legislature’s Health Care Access Commission. This comprehensive health care reform package will make significant progress toward achieving quality, affordable, accessible health care for all Minnesotans.

The reform package includes:

Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP)
SHIP will improve health and reduce demands on the health care system by decreasing the percentage of Minnesotans who are obese or overweight or use tobacco.

Health care homes
Minnesotans with complex or chronic conditions will receive coordinated care through health care homes. This new approach to primary care promotes coordinated care from a team of health care providers focusing on common goals.

• Health care providers may now apply to become certified as a health care home.

Payment reform, quality measurement and cost/quality transparency
These parts of the health reform bill are aimed at making sure the right financial incentives are in place to encourage changes in health care that reduce cost and improve quality. Reforms include the development of health care quality measures, a provider peer grouping system and baskets of care.

e-Health
New developments in health information technology will make health care safer and more efficient. All prescriptions will be ordered electronically by 2011 and interoperable health records will be in place by 2015.

Insurance coverage and affordability
The bill makes it easier for people to get information about state health care programs, promotes the use of Section 125 plans for employees to buy health insurance with pre-tax money, and requires reports to the Legislature on subsidies for employer-based health insurance coverage and value-based benefit sets.

Other activities
The bill establishes a Health Care Reform Review Council, requires several studies and reports to the Legislature, and establishes a mechanism for projecting health care costs and measuring savings.