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Legislative history
Here is where we stand:
Senate file 2324
Introduced 05/19/2007
PASSED by Health, Housing and Family Security 02/18/2008
House file 2522
Introduction and first reading 05/19/2007
Referred to Health and Human Services 05/19/2007
Principles of Health Care Reform
The Minnesota Health Act is driven by the need for solutions that work and not by ideology. The solutions are based on over-arching principles of health care reform.
In order to develop a plan that keeps Minnesotans healthy and provides the best
quality of health care, the Minnesota Health Care Plan will:
(1) ensure all Minnesotans receive high quality health care, regardless of their income;
(2) not restrict, delay, or deny care or reduce the quality of care to hold down costs, but instead
reduce costs through prevention, efficiency, and reduction of bureaucracy;
(3) cover all necessary care, including all coverage currently required by law, complete mental health
services, chemical dependency treatment, prescription drugs, medical equipment and supplies, dental
care, long-term care, and home care services;
(4) allow patients to choose their own providers;
(5) be funded through premiums and other payments based on the person's ability to pay, so as not to
deny full access to any Minnesota resident;
(6) focus on preventive care and early intervention to improve the health of all Minnesota residents
and reduce costs from untreated illnesses and diseases;
(7) ensure an adequate number of qualified health care professionals and facilities to guarantee
availability of, and timely access to quality care throughout the state;
(8) continue Minnesota's leadership in medical education, training, research, and technology; and
(9) provide adequate and timely payments to providers.