The Health Economics Program (HEP) conducts empirical, objective research and applied policy analysis to monitor changes in the health care marketplace; to understand factors influencing health care cost, quality and access; and to provide technical assistance in the development of state health care policy.

We maintain a range of Data Resources for analysis, and publish reports, papers, issue briefs, presentations and more in our Publications library.

Health Care Spending

Check out HEP's 2020 Minnesota Health Care Spending infographic (PDF) of key findings from our most recent Health Care Spending Report.

HEP New Duties

Learn more about HEP's new work following the 2023 legislative session by viewing the 2023 HEP Legislative Fact Sheet (PDF).

Health-Related Quality of Life

Dive into HEP's Health-Related Quality of Life (PDF) examining the number of unhealthy days taken by Minnesotans.

Recent Publications

This preliminary report to the Minnesota Legislature summarizes findings from a qualitative study conducted for MDH by Wilder Research, results from surveys conducted by MDH, and data from initial analyses of the MN APCD to examine the impact of telehealth on health care access, patient satisfaction, quality and outcomes, equity, and costs. The report contains recommendations to the Minnesota Legislature. (May 2023)

Study of Telehealth Expansion and Payment Parity: Preliminary Report to the Minnesota Legislature 2023 (PDF)

This Data Short Take provides information on the average number of unhealthy days Minnesotans reported from 2013 to 2021. Including both physically and mentally unhealth days, this short take summarizes changes in health-related quality of life, and highlights select populations in Minnesota that report more unhealthy days. (April 2023)

This report provides estimates of health care spending for Minnesota residents in 2020 and projections of spending between 2021 and 2030. The report also explores the history of health care spending growth and includes health care spending by source of funds and categories of service. (February 2023)

Minnesota Health Care Spending: 2020 Estimates and Ten-Year Projections (PDF)

Infographic: Minnesota Health Care Spending in 2020 (PDF)

Chartbook: Minnesota Health Care Spending and Cost Drivers (PDF)

This first legislative report from the Prescription Drug Price Transparency initiative includes an overview of the Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act, its implementation, analysis of data reported through June 2022, and preliminary discussion of the effectiveness of the Act. (February 2023)

Prescription Drug Price Transparency: Report to the Minnesota Legislature (PDF)

Also available is a set of interactive data dashboards.

This report presents the results of the Minnesota Department of Health’s (MDH) work in developing annual estimates of the health care costs directly associated with selected chronic conditions and smoking. (December 2022)

Treated Chronic Disease Prevalence and Spending in Minnesota: Estimated Spending for 2009,2017, and 2018, Projected Spending for 2017 through 2028 (PDF)

Supplemental Appendices (PDF)

This collection of presentation slides on rural health care in Minnesota – a chartbook – was developed in partnership between MDH’s Health Economics Program and the Office of Rural Health and Primary Care. The chartbook provides information on the structure of the health care system in rural Minnesota, the health care workforce, changes in the availability of health care services, how people in rural Minnesota experience and use health care services, and the financing of health care. (November 2022)

Rural Health Care in Minnesota: Data Highlights (chartbook) (PDF)

An appendix of Data Sources (PDF) is also available.

This brief relies upon data from the MN APCD and methods developed by the Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI) to produce population-based estimates of spending, prices, and use for medical care and prescription drugs. (November 2022)

Health Care Spending, Prices, and Use in Minnesota: 2016 to 2020 (PDF)

Due to the Minnesota hospital construction moratorium, MDH is required to issue a finding on whether the proposed 144-bed mental health hospital in Saint Paul is in the public interest. MDH is issuing a summary of conclusions from this review and will release a more detailed report in the coming weeks. The summary provides conclusions and supporting information based on relevant issues faced by MDH in evaluating the proposal. (November 2022)

Public Interest Review documents

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