Here are ten principles that any good healthcare system must abide by. To keep Minnesotans healthy and provide the highest quality healthcare, the Minnesota Health Plan (Senate File 929/House File 1812)is based on, and would be governed by, these fundamental principles:
- ensure all Minnesota residents are covered;
cover all necessary care, including dental, vision and hearing, mental health, chemical dependency treatment, prescription drugs, medical equipment and supplies, long-term care, and home care;
allow patients to choose their doctors;reduce costs by negotiating fair prices and by cutting administrative bureaucracy, not by restricting or denying care; affordable to all through premiums based on ability to pay & elimination of co-pays;
- focus on preventive care and early intervention to improve health;ensure that there are enough health care providers to guarantee timely access to care;continue Minnesota’s leadership in medical education, research, and technology;provide adequate and timely payments to providers;
and use a simple funding and payment system.