1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to health; establishing an office of patient protection; establishing
1.3 responsibilities of an office of patient protection; requiring reports; proposing
1.4 coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 62J.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. [62J.97] OFFICE OF PATIENT PROTECTION.
1.7 Subdivision 1.Establishment.The Office of Patient Protection is established to:
1.8 (1) assist consumers with issues related to access and quality of health care; and
1.9 (2) advise the legislature on ways to reduce consumer health care spending and improve
1.10consumer experiences by reducing complexity for consumers.
1.11 Subd. 2.Director.The governor shall appoint a director for the office. The director shall
1.12be in the unclassified service and shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. The director
1.13shall direct the office to fulfill its statutory responsibilities.
1.14 Subd. 3.Organization.The office shall consist of a director of the Office of Patient
1.15Protection as well as any staff necessary to carry out the office's responsibilities under
1.16subdivision 4. The office is a distinct entity, separately identifiable from other state agencies,
1.17and may not be engaged in the provision of health care or health insurance.
1.18 Subd. 4.Responsibilities.The office shall:
1.19 (1) establish and implement procedures to assist consumers aggrieved by restrictions on
1.20patient choice, denials of service, and reductions in quality of care resulting from any final
1.21action by a payer or provider;
1Section 1.
REVISOR SGS/CH 25-0221202/05/25
State of Minnesota
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. F. No. 1072
NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
Authored by Pursell02/17/2025
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Health Finance and Policy 2.1 (2) work with private sector and state agency consumer assistance programs to directly
2.2assist consumers with questions or concerns relating to public programs and private insurance
2.3coverage;
2.4 (3) collect information about health plan company quality of care and patient satisfaction
2.5information, and make information collected by the office reasonably accessible to consumers
2.6on the office's website; and
2.7 (4) report to the legislature by February 15 of each year on the work of the office in the
2.8previous calendar year and recommend any needed policy changes to improve consumer
2.9experiences by reducing complexity for consumers.
2Section 1.
REVISOR SGS/CH 25-0221202/05/25