Prior Authorization Deal Pending as Legislature Enters Its Final Days

May 16, 2024

Only a few more days remain before the Minnesota Legislature adjourns for the year. In an attempt to complete their work by the May 20 deadline, both the House and Senate are finalizing omnibus bills in conference committee and bringing them up for daily floor votes.  

One omnibus bill has yet to be finalized, though - the health and human services supplemental budget omnibus bill, which comes in at more than 300 pages in the House and more than 500 pages in the Senate.  

“This is not atypical,” said Chad Fahning, the MMAs’ manager of state legislative affairs. “The health bill is one of the largest omnibus bills and there are some significant differences that need to be worked out. Deals often wait until the final days of session, but that doesn’t reduce the anxiety felt about getting our legislative priorities across the finish line.” 

The House bill contains the MMA’s prior authorization reform language, while the Senate bill includes the MMA’s physician wellness language. A conference committee of three House members and three Senate members  has been formed to negotiate the differences between the two versions, but it has yet to meet formally.  

House conferees include Reps. Tina Liebling (DFL – Rochester), Dave Pinto (DFL – St. Paul), and Robert Bierman (DFL – Apple Valley). Senate conferees include Sens. Melissa Wiklund (DFL – Bloomington), Alice Mann (DFL – Edina), and Robert Kupec (DFL – Moorhead). 

A final health and human services package is expected to be finalized within the next few days, and the final vote to happen this upcoming weekend.