Other activities
The bill establishes a 14-member Health Care Reform Review Council. The Council will meet on at least a quarterly basis to review the progress of implementation of the payment reform, quality measurement and cost/quality transparency and health care homes provisions of the bill.
The legislative package also establishes a process for projecting health care costs and measuring savings, with public reporting of projected and actual health care spending.
The bill also requires several studies and reports, including the following:
- LCHCA progress reports
Periodic progress reports from the Commissioner of Health to the Legislative Commission on Health Care Access, beginning January 15, 2009.
- Health care workforce shortages study
A study related to health care workforce shortages, including potential changes to health professional licensure requirements to address workforce shortages. The study will be conducted in conjunction with the health licensing boards and professional associations, with recommendations due to the Legislature by January 15, 2009.
- Uniform claims review study
A study of ways to reduce claims adjudication costs of health care providers and health plans through the use of more uniform payment methods or uniform prices. The Commissioner of Health will establish a work group including representatives of the Minnesota Hospital Association, the Minnesota Medical Association, and the Minnesota Council of Health Plans. The work group must make recommendations to the Commissioner by January 1, 2010, including specific action steps needed to achieve the recommendations.
- Health care affordability proposal
A report and recommendations to the Legislature on ways to improve health care affordability for people with access to employer-subsidized health coverage and family incomes at or below 300% of federal poverty guidelines, through the use of subsidies or tax deductions and credits to ensure that health coverage meets specific affordability standards. The Commissioner of Health will perform the study in consultation with the Commissioner of Human Services, and the study is due to the Legislature by January 15, 2009.
- Community benefit standards for nonprofit health plan companies
A report to the Legislature on community benefit standards for nonprofit health plan companies. The report must recommend a procedure for periodic, uniform public reporting of health plan community benefits, as well as a mechanism for enforcement and remediation. The report will be submitted to the Legislature in January 2009.
- Oral Health Practitioner Work Group
A study and report on licensing of oral health practitioners. The Commissioner of Health must convene a work group to develop recommendations and proposed legislation for the education and regulation of oral health practitioners. The work group must submit its recommendations to the Commissioner by December 15, 2008. The Commissioner of Health and the Board of Dentistry must submit a report containing the work group’s recommendations and draft legislation to the Legislature by January 15, 2009.