Minnesota Senate Bill SF1402

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/13/25
• Refer: 2/13/25
• Refer: 3/3/25
• Refer: 4/2/25

Caption

Medical assistance rate adjustments establishment for physician and professional services

Impact

The bill's implementation will lead to an annual assessment on health plan companies from 2026 to 2029, which is calculated based on the number of enrollees they serve. The collected funds will be deposited in the health care access fund and allocated to support medical assistance programs, aiming to ensure that vulnerable populations continue to receive necessary health services. This could positively affect access to care, especially for individuals with limited financial means.

Summary

SF1402 is a legislative bill aimed at establishing medical assistance rate adjustments for various healthcare services, including increasing rates for certain residential services and establishing a statewide reimbursement rate for behavioral health home services. Additionally, the bill imposes an assessment on health plan companies to provide non-federal funds for medical assistance. This financial mechanism is expected to address gaps in funding and improve the sustainability of the state’s healthcare services.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding SF1402 appears to be largely supportive among healthcare advocates and legislators who recognize the necessity of funding improvements in medical assistance. However, there are concerns from some stakeholders about the potential implications of increased assessments on health plan companies, particularly regarding how these changes may be passed on to consumers in the form of higher premiums or reduced access to services.

Contention

Notable points of contention include the financial impact on health plan companies as they prepare to comply with new assessment requirements. Critics argue that these increased costs could lead to higher premiums for consumers and tougher market conditions for smaller health plans. Proponents counter that the investment in healthcare delivery is critical for maintaining quality and accessibility, particularly for mental health and primary care services.