HF 3391 - It's UNIVERSAL!

Here is the “universal” part of on HF 3391. Specifically I would like to focus on Article 5 Section 12.

45.5 Sec. 12. [62U.06] GOALS FOR UNIVERSAL COVERAGE; CONTINGENT
45.6 INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY REQUIREMENT.
45.7 Subdivision 1. Phase-in goals. The state's phase-in goals for progress toward
45.8 universal health coverage for Minnesota residents are:
45.9 (1) 94 percent insured by end of fiscal year 2009;
45.10 (2) 96 percent insured by end of fiscal year 2011;
45.11 (3) 97 percent insured by end of fiscal year 2012; and
45.12 (4) 98 percent insured by end of fiscal year 2013 and thereafter.
45.13 Subd. 2. Measurement of percent insured.The determination of the percent
45.14 of Minnesota residents insured must be based on an annual survey of the Minnesota
45.15 population younger than age 65 to be conducted or contracted for by the commissioner
45.16 of health which must include questions related to the type of insurance, amount of
45.17 cost-sharing, and potential barriers to public program enrollment.
45.18 Subd. 3. Contingent individual responsibility requirement. (a) If the increased
45.19 affordability, cost containment, insurance reform, and voluntary efforts provided for
45.20 under this act fail to achieve universal coverage, an individual responsibility requirement
45.21 must have been proven to be necessary.
45.22 (b) If any one of the phase-in goals specified in subdivision 1 for fiscal year 2011 or
45.23 later is not met, as determined by the commissioner of health, in spite of implementation
45.24 of the increased affordability, cost containment, insurance reform, and voluntary efforts
45.25 provided for under sections 62U.01 to 62U.09, an individual responsibility requirement,
45.26 requiring every Minnesota resident to obtain and maintain health coverage from a public
45.27 or private sector source of the person's choice, must become effective 12 months after the
45.28 end of that fiscal year, provided that the commissioner certifies that health plans that meet
45.29 the affordability standard under section 62U.08 are available to Minnesotans.
45.30 (c) Failure to comply with the individual responsibility requirement is not a crime,
45.31 but must subject the person to a financial penalty to be specified in law.

There it is…..the “Devil” in the details…..Universal Care! According to this bill, the legislature wants to take over health care for 98% of ALL Minnesota residents by 2013. This is a change in earlier language (in the bill). Earlier language in the bill talks about how this is coverage for only those Minnesotans who are on specific already existing plans. The authors go to great pains to make sure that it is spelled out (in earlier sections) that the “universality” is for people who are on MN Care and Medicare and Medicaid! So now when you take this language and go back up to Article 1 Section 1. Note the difference between line 1.24 and line 45.8.

1.23 Subdivision 1. Selection of primary care clinic.Beginning January 1, 2009, the
1.24 commissioner shall require state health care program enrollees eligible for services
1.25 under the fee-for-service system to select a primary care clinic or medical group, within
1.26 two months of enrollment. Beginning July 1, 2009, the commissioner shall encourage
1.27 enrollees who have a complex or chronic condition to select a primary care clinic or
1.28 medical group with clinicians who have been certified as health care homes under section
1.29 256B.0751, subdivision 3. The commissioner and county social service agencies shall
2.1 provide enrollees with lists of primary care clinics, medical groups, and clinicians certified
2.2 as health care homes, and shall establish a toll-free number to provide enrollees with
2.3 assistance in choosing a clinic, medical group, or health care home.

Up until line 45.8, the talk was all about “program enrollees eligible for services” That all changes in 45.8….now it reads “Minnesota Residents”. Understand that THIS MEANS YOU. If you have employer provided health care you will still be required to register with a state primary care clinic (or health care home) and you will be required to undergo an initial screening in order to determine whether you have a “chronic condition” (including obesity) that requires long term care. Realize that this means that no matter whether you pay for your own insurance or not, you are still going to eventually be brought under the umbrella of state run health care and instead of your insurance company getting your premium payments, the STATE WILL. Also realize that this means your premiums will go UP and that rate will be mandated by the State!

27.8 Subd. 3. Premium rate restrictions. No individual health plan may be offered,
27.9 sold, issued, or renewed to a Minnesota resident unless the premium rate charged is
27.10 determined in accordance with the following requirements:

AND the State will tell your employer what kind of policy that they are required to provide to you (start reading lines 29.4 thru 31.23) and what your employer can contribute.

Realize that the department of health will have a scant 4 months to put this together by mandate and that the effective date of this bill would be January 1 2009! This drastic, rapid take over of one of the few healthy segments of the Minnesota economy right now will further deepen the recession that we find ourselves in today.

There is still time to stop this, my friends. HF 3391 is still in committee (next stop the Health and Human Services Finance Division) and is subject to being amended. Call your legislator, call your Senator (SF 3099 is the companion bill to HF 3391) and most importantly call Governor Pawlenty and urge them to defeat this bill.

WELCOME Hot Air readers. Pull up a chair and stay a while.