Key health policy updates from March 3, 2025: MAFP lobbyist Megan Verdeja shares the latest legislative news on health care-related bills impacting family physicians and health care access.
MAFP Legislative Priorities in Action
The following pieces of legislation, currently under consideration, align with the MAFP’s legislative priorities of reducing administrative burdens, investing in primary care and improving health care access.
Mid-Year Formulary Changes (HF 1652/SF 1806): Seeks to prohibit health insurers from making mid-year changes to their drug formularies, ensuring stable access to prescribed medications for patients.
Healthcare Access Fund (SF 1572): Proposes an assessment on health plans to support MinnesotaCare and Medical Assistance programs.
Prior Authorization Commission (SF 1739): Aims to streamline and reform the prior authorization process, reducing administrative burdens on health care providers.
Committee Hearings: House Health Finance and Policy Updates
On February 24, 2025, the Minnesota House Health Finance and Policy Committee heard a series of bills related to ambulance service rates and emergency medical services training—all of which were laid over for possible inclusion in a future omnibus bill. The committee also heard the Psychiatric Collaborative Care Model bill, along with the following bills that are important to the MAFP and our members:
House File (HF) 958: Medical Assistance coverage of the Psychiatric Collaborative Care Model provided (author: Rep. Nadeau). An author’s amendment for HF 958 was adopted, which adds definitions and more broadly requires coverage instead of listing each code that should be covered. This bill passed unanimously on a voice vote and will be heard next in the Human Services Committee. The MAFP is part of a coalition supporting this effort.
HF 981: Opioid prevention and education funding provided, and money appropriated (author: Rep. Bierman). This bill was laid over for possible inclusion in a future omnibus bill. Read the bill summary for HF 981.
Committee Hearings: Senate Health and Human Services Updates
Hearing from February 25, 2025:
In the Senate, the Health and Human Services Committee took up the international medical graduate bill: Senate File (SF) 0509: Health licensing requirements modifications (author: Sen. Mann). Several testifiers in favor of SF 509 shared their stories as international medical graduates coming to the U.S. This bill received bipartisan support and was passed to the Senate State and Local Government Committee.
- Read the Scope Questionnaire for SF 509.
- See the bill summary for SF 509.
- Of note: An author’s amendment for SF 509 was adopted, incorporating feedback from the MAFP.
Hearing from February 26, 2025:
The committee also took up the MAFP’s priority bill addressing Medical Assistance rate reimbursement, as well as the Psychiatric Collaborative Care Model bill. A summary of the hearing follows.
SF 1402: Medical assistance rate adjustments establishment for physician and professional services (author: Sen. Wiklund). The committee adopted the author’s amendment for SF 1402, which changed the funding for a General Fund appropriation to an MCO (managed care organization) assessment on health plan companies. Although bipartisan support was shown for the original underlying bill, which had the funding out of the General Fund, some concerns were raised after the amendment was adopted to include the MCO assessment. In particular, Republican members of the committee expressed concerns on whether a new tax on health plans may impact health insurance rates. Ultimately, SF 1402 passed as amended and was sent to the Senate Taxes Committee.
- See the bill summary for SF 1402.
- View the Minnesota Medical Association’s rates handout.
- Read the MAFP’s letter of support for SF 1402.
SF 0477: Case management associate, mental health behavioral aide and mental health rehabilitation worker supervision requirements modification (author: Sen. Boldon). This bill was laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.
SF 0008: Medical assistance coverage provision of the Psychiatric Collaborative Care Model (author: Sen. Boldon). An author’s amendment for SF 8 was adopted, which adds definitions and more broadly requires coverage. SF 8 was laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.
SF 1561: Grant programs establishment for various purposes related to children’s mental health (author: Sen. Mann). This bill was laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill. Read the bill summary for SF 1561.
SF 0928: Children’s mental health programs modification and appropriation (author: Sen. Mann). This bill was laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill. Read the bill summary for SF 928.
