Bill Text: MN HF559 | 2011-2012 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: MinnesotaCare voucher demonstration project established.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-02-17 - Introduction and first reading, referred to Health and Human Services Reform [HF559 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2011-HF559-Introduced.html
1.2relating to human services; establishing a MinnesotaCare voucher demonstration
1.3project;proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 256L.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. [256L.29] MINNESOTACARE VOUCHER DEMONSTRATION
1.6PROJECT.
1.7 Subdivision 1. Demonstration project goal. As part of a strategy to transition
1.8public health care programs from a defined benefit strategy to a defined contribution
1.9strategy, and to promote increased efficiency, enhanced cost-effectiveness, and improved
1.10outcomes in public health programs, the commissioner of human services shall develop
1.11and implement a voucher demonstration project.
1.12 Subd. 2. Development and federal approval. (a) The commissioner shall develop
1.13and seek federal approval for a three-year demonstration project to provide health
1.14coverage vouchers on a monthly basis to MinnesotaCare enrollees. Participation in the
1.15demonstration project by MinnesotaCare enrollees is voluntary, and the commissioner
1.16may set a limit on the total number of demonstration project participants.
1.17(b) The commissioner shall implement the demonstration project on July 1, 2012, or
1.18upon federal approval, whichever is later.
1.19 Subd. 3. Sliding scale for voucher payments. The commissioner shall establish
1.20a sliding scale for voucher payments that varies with household income. The sliding
1.21scale must provide a voucher payment to each enrollee that is equivalent to the premium
1.22subsidy the enrollee would otherwise have received under the MinnesotaCare sliding scale
1.23established in section 256L.15. The commissioner shall adjust the voucher payment
2.1each January 1 to reflect any increases in the average subsidy provided under the
2.2MinnesotaCare program.
2.3 Subd. 4. Use of voucher payments. Vouchers may be used by participants to
2.4purchase health care coverage from a health plan company or may be used as contributions
2.5into a health savings account. The commissioner shall define terms and conditions for the
2.6use of voucher payments. The commissioner shall deposit voucher payments on a monthly
2.7basis directly into the health savings account designated by a voucher recipient.
2.8 Subd. 5. Report to legislature. The commissioner shall present to the legislature,
2.9by December 15, 2014:
2.10(1) an evaluation of the demonstration project, including recommendations on
2.11whether the demonstration project should be continued or expanded;
2.12(2) recommendations on whether the use of vouchers for the purchase of private
2.13sector health coverage should be expanded to medical assistance; and
2.14(3) recommendations on whether the use of vouchers should be expanded to include
2.15medical assistance coverage of long-term care services.
1.3project;proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 256L.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. [256L.29] MINNESOTACARE VOUCHER DEMONSTRATION
1.6PROJECT.
1.7 Subdivision 1. Demonstration project goal. As part of a strategy to transition
1.8public health care programs from a defined benefit strategy to a defined contribution
1.9strategy, and to promote increased efficiency, enhanced cost-effectiveness, and improved
1.10outcomes in public health programs, the commissioner of human services shall develop
1.11and implement a voucher demonstration project.
1.12 Subd. 2. Development and federal approval. (a) The commissioner shall develop
1.13and seek federal approval for a three-year demonstration project to provide health
1.14coverage vouchers on a monthly basis to MinnesotaCare enrollees. Participation in the
1.15demonstration project by MinnesotaCare enrollees is voluntary, and the commissioner
1.16may set a limit on the total number of demonstration project participants.
1.17(b) The commissioner shall implement the demonstration project on July 1, 2012, or
1.18upon federal approval, whichever is later.
1.19 Subd. 3. Sliding scale for voucher payments. The commissioner shall establish
1.20a sliding scale for voucher payments that varies with household income. The sliding
1.21scale must provide a voucher payment to each enrollee that is equivalent to the premium
1.22subsidy the enrollee would otherwise have received under the MinnesotaCare sliding scale
1.23established in section 256L.15. The commissioner shall adjust the voucher payment
2.1each January 1 to reflect any increases in the average subsidy provided under the
2.2MinnesotaCare program.
2.3 Subd. 4. Use of voucher payments. Vouchers may be used by participants to
2.4purchase health care coverage from a health plan company or may be used as contributions
2.5into a health savings account. The commissioner shall define terms and conditions for the
2.6use of voucher payments. The commissioner shall deposit voucher payments on a monthly
2.7basis directly into the health savings account designated by a voucher recipient.
2.8 Subd. 5. Report to legislature. The commissioner shall present to the legislature,
2.9by December 15, 2014:
2.10(1) an evaluation of the demonstration project, including recommendations on
2.11whether the demonstration project should be continued or expanded;
2.12(2) recommendations on whether the use of vouchers for the purchase of private
2.13sector health coverage should be expanded to medical assistance; and
2.14(3) recommendations on whether the use of vouchers should be expanded to include
2.15medical assistance coverage of long-term care services.
