Watch today’s press conference here.

Senator Scott Jensen (R-Chaska) and his fellow Senate Republican colleagues unveiled a number of innovative ideas aimed at reducing health care costs today, promising to cut through red tape to give consumers better choices and more say in their own care. The proposals will also give consumers alternatives to expensive health insurance plans, cut out middlemen, and eliminate anti-competitive practices that have led to higher health care and prescription drug costs for consumers.

“We’re not tinkering around the edges,” said Senator Jensen, a practicing family physician. “These are bold, innovative ideas that will dismantle some of the biggest cost drivers in our health care system.”

The proposals include:

• Direct Primary Care: A flexible new way for doctors and patients to work together without the insurance middleman. DPC often includes unlimited office visits, faster scheduling, more time spent with your doctor, and low, flat rates.

• ‘Right to Shop’: Gives patients the right to shop around for the best value for their health care dollar, even if the doctor or clinic is out of network.

• Pre-existing conditions coverage: Eliminates any doubt that Minnesotans with pre-existing conditions are protected.

• Pharmacy Benefits Manager reform: Provides transparency and accountability for PBMs, which are middlemen many consumers don’t even realize exist between them, their doctor, and their pharmacy. Reforms include: Licensure of PBMs, disclosure of conflicts of interest, and a requirement to expand pharmacy networks so patients have access to local pharmacies no matter where they live in the state.

“These proposals will put patients first by reducing the role of the middlemen in the patient-doctor relationship, as well as the patient-pharmacist connection,” added Jensen, who served as the Chairman of the bipartisan Senate Select Committee on Health Care Consumer Access and Affordability. “Strengthening the role of the patient-physician bond, making healthcare pricing more transparent, and promoting consumer choice can lower the cost of health care and improve patient satisfaction.”