Health and Human Services Conference Committee Starts Deliberations

May 4, 2023

Work began May 3 on reconciling the differences between the House and Senate versions of the Health and Human Services omnibus bill.  

The 10-member conference committee that will do the work includes five conferees from each body. Conferees include Reps. Tina Liebling (DFL – Rochester, Robert Bierman (DFL – Apple Valley), Dave Pinto (DFL – St. Paul), Heather Keeler (DFL – Moorhead), Joe Schomacker (R – Luverne) and Sens. Melissa Wiklund (DFL – Bloomington), Kelly Morrison (DFL – Deephaven), Liz Bolden (DFL – Rochester), Robert Kupec DFL – Moorhead), and Jim Abeler (R – Anoka). 

Several MMA priorities are included in the bills, as outlined in the MMA’s letter to conferees. Four MMA legislative priorities are included in one or both bills: Mid-year formulary changes, continued coverage for audio-only telehealth services, the creation of a statewide database of Provider Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) forms, and Medical Assistance (MA) coverage for recuperative care services. Additionally, the letter noted support for new healthcare worker safety grants, updates to the all-payer claims database, and investments into physician workforce, specifically through rural residency programs and physician loan forgiveness programs. 

The MMA’s letter also noted three areas of concern in one or both of the bills. 

The first relates to broadened oversight authority for the Attorney General regarding private facility transactions. While the MMA believes that over-consolidation can result in higher costs and lower patient outcomes, the language in this section needs to be narrowed to focus on healthcare transactions that will harm patient access and affordability. 

A second concern is with the proposed Healthcare Affordability Commission. While efforts to improve planning for healthcare spending are critical and necessary, the MMA opposes language to grant authority to the Commission to enforce spending limits and issue regulatory penalties. 

Lastly, the MMA has worked closely with the authors of the MinnesotaCare buy-in, or public option program, to ensure that the reimbursement rates in the proposed public option will not result in excessive financial strain on providers. The MMA supports additional actuarial studies prior to implementation, as well as grants to purchase gold-level products, expanded coverage to all undocumented Minnesotans, and expanded eligibility for MinnesotaCare. 

The committee is expected to meet over the next week to agree to a consensus committee report that will be sent back to the House and Senate for a final floor vote.