Senator Mary Kiffmeyer (R-Big Lake) joined several Senate Republicans to unveil 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.
Senator Kiffmeyer’s proposal focuses specifically on direct primary care (DPC). Her legislation would create 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.
“As a former nurse, I’ve witnessed first-hand how important the doctor-patient relationship is to patients’ overall health and healing process,” said Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer (R-Big Lake). “Our Direct Primary Care legislation is designed to nurture that relationship and eliminate anything standing between a patient and their trusted family doctor.”
Additional proposals introduced included:
- ‘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.
Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer continued “Combined these new innovative ideas will help dismantle some of the biggest cost drivers in our health care system giving residents and our state a fighting chance to control ballooning health care costs.”