Several MMA Priorities Contained in House Omnibus Bills

March 30, 2023

On March 27, the House Health Finance and Policy Committee released its omnibus bill, which contains several MMA priorities, including a two-year extension for audio-only telehealth coverage, Medical Assistance coverage for recuperative care services, and the creation of a statewide database for provider orders for life-sustaining treatment (POLST) forms. 

HF2930 (Liebling, DFL – Rochester), as amended, also contains updates to the all-payer claims database to include non-claims data, as well as grant funding for healthcare entities to improve worker safety to address the rise in violence against healthcare workers. 

In addition, the bill includes efforts to address healthcare workforce shortages in underserved areas, such as funding for loan forgiveness, clinical training grants, and primary care residency training programs. 

The bill also requires coverage and reimbursement of postpartum use of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) and increased reimbursement for family-planning services. 

The MMA voiced its support for these items in an itemized letter to the committee, as well as public testimony on March 29. 

The House released most of its committee omnibus bills this week, including Human Services, Judiciary, and Commerce. The MMA’s priority to introduce the Communication and Optimal Resolution (CANDOR) process in Minnesota was included in the House Judiciary omnibus bill. Several drug price transparency items were listed in the House Commerce omnibus bill. However, the MMA priority to prohibit insurers and pharmacy benefit managers from forcing patients off of a drug in the middle of their contract year has not been included in an omnibus bill yet.  

The mid-year formulary language could be listed in the Senate Health omnibus bill, expected to be released soon and heard early next week.