Minnesota

September 9, 2024

Single Payer Organizations in Minnesota:

National Organizations with Significant Presence:

National Nurses United
Minnesota Nurses Association,
Labor Campaign for Single Payer,
Plus the Social Security Works, Physicians for a National Health Program, Healthcare-NOW!, Be A Hero!, and Public Citizen

State-based single-payer bills:

Senate File 2740 - Sen John Marty (co-sponsors 22/67) House File 2798 - Rep Liz Reyer (co-sponsors 35/134)
In addition to the links above, Senator Marty has written a “plain English” version of the (single-payer) Minnesota Health Plan, www.mnhealthplan.org

Related legislation:

Analysis of Benefits and Costs of a Universal Health Care System: SF1771 – Sen John Marty; HF 1843 – Rep Liz Reyer
Medical Debt Relief Bill [SF4065 Liz Bolden / HF4100 Liz Reyer]
Prior Authorization Bill [SF3535 Kelly Morrison / HF 3578 Kristin Bahner] seeks to restrict the use of prior authorization.
SF2995, passed in 2023, orders the Departments of Human Services (DHS) and Health (MDH) to study and report on the savings or lack of savings from HMO contractors, [to create evidence-base for more effective cost containment by deprivatizing MinnesotaCare and Medicaid.]

Obstacles to a universal, single-payer system:

Opposition from

large, non-profit private health insurance companies, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Medica, and HealthPartners,and UnitedHealthGroup;
Several large medical products manufacturers, including Medtronic, St. Jude Medical, Boston Scientific, Olympus Surgical Technologies, and others;
The Chamber of Commerce; and PhRMA – the lobbying group for the pharmaceutical industry.
Large hospital and clinic systems – the Mayo Clinic, Allina Health System, Fairview Health Service/M Health Fairview, Essentia Health, CentraCare Health System, with vested interests in higher reimbursements from private health companies;
Minnesota Hospital Association unwilling to discuss alternatives to multi-payer.
Only 2 of 8 Congressional representatives and neither Senator co-sponsor national Medicare for All (HR 3421).
In the 2023-24 biennium [and we presume in the next session] attempts to establish the MinnesotaCare Public Option, a costly, incremental approach that could seriously delay progress on a true single-payer system.
Lack of support from the governor and legislative leadership for a universal, single-payer system

Advantages for universal, single-payer legislation in the current context:

Democratic control of the state House, Senate, and the state constitutional offices, including Governor and Attorney General
Minnesota Health Plan Legislative Caucus formed in Jan 2023, more willing to work with HCA-MN.
The visionary behind The Minnesota Health Plan, who is a senior member of the state Senate, and the chair of the House Health Policy and Finance Committee, are strong supporters and champions for real reform.

Goals for 2023 – 2024:

Monitor, and influence where possible, the two studies on the costs associated with contracting administration of our public programs – MinnesotaCare and Medical Assistance – to private insurers, as well as the cost analysis of universal, single-payer for Minnesota.
Support legislation that builds the infrastructure for a publicly administered health care system, or bills to reduce costs for individuals and families in the near term, such as the Medical Debt Fairness Act.
Continue to build a coalition of like-minded organizations and individuals to build the political will for reform.
Work with the Minnesota Health Plan Legislative Caucus and health policy experts to assure that the single-payer bills introduced in 2023 are ready for hearings.
Push for informational hearings in the next session, pending the results of the single-payer system cost analysis.

Where can people find news about universal, single payer legislation in your state and/or join a group?

Health Care for All Minnesota (HCA-MN) https://hca-mn.org.

Submitted by Anne Jones, RN, Vice-Chair, Health Care for All Minnesota 612-964-8370