2005 House Bill 2 (Health Mandates Elimination and Tort Reform)

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• Introduced by Rep. Jim Abeler, Rep. Bruce Anderson, Rep. Fran Bradley, Rep. Mike Charron, Rep. Tony Cornish, Rep. Lloyd Cybart, Rep. Gregory Davids, Rep. Matt Dean, Rep. Randy Demmer, Rep. Jerry Dempsey, Rep. Denise Dittrich, Rep. Rob Eastlund, Rep. Brad Finstad, Rep. Pat Garofalo, Rep. Paul Gazelka, Rep. Rod Hamilton, Rep. Joe Hoppe, Rep. Jeff Johnson, Rep. Karen Klinzing, Rep. Morrie Lanning, Rep. Denny McNamara, Rep. Erik Paulsen, Rep. Joyce Peppin, Rep. Neil W. Peterson, Rep. Duke Powell, Rep. Connie Ruth, Rep. Char Samuelson, Rep. Dan Severson, Rep. Dean Simpson, Rep. Judy Soderstrom, Rep. Steve Sviggum, Rep. Barb Sykora, Rep. Dean Urdahl, Rep. Lynn Wardlow and Rep. Tim Wilkin on January 6, 2005, to make a variety of changes to Minnesota Health Care policy. Among the changes, the bill: 1) requires the state to allow state employees at least one high-deductible optional health plan with health savings accounts, 2) prohibits the state budget from including any provision requesting new or increased funding for an expansion of the eligibility or covered services for state provided health programs, 3) requires a state study on health care cost shifting, 4) prohibits new mandated health care benefits until at least January 1st, 2008, 5) allows health insurers to offer alternative benefit plans to small employers that use co-pays and deductibles, eliminate otherwise mandated coverage, and offer plans without regard to otherwise required loss ratios, 6) allows for out of state and for profit health maintenance organizations to operate in Minnesota, 7) increases the minimum and maximum premiums charged for membership in the state's "comprehensive health insurance plan," 8) limits malpractice damages for non-economic loses to a maximum of $250,000 regardless of the number of parties against whom the action is brought, 9) limits punitive damages against a health care provider to $250,000, 10) limits attorney fees in malpractice cases to 40 percent of the first $50,000, 1/3 of the next $50,000, 25 percent of the next $500,000 and 15 percent of the portion that exceeds $600,000, and 11) allows recognized specialty organization or an organization established for the purpose of developing community-based clinical practice guidelines to establish and approve "best practice guidelines" that could be used as an absolute defense against malpractice actions (evidence of departure from the guidelines would only be admissible as to whether there is an entitlement to an absolute defense) subject to limitations on the type of claim (SF376 Companion Bill).
  • Referred to the House Health Policy and Finance Committee on January 6, 2005.
  • Motion by Rep. Fran Bradley on January 10, 2005, to add Representatives Charron, Gazelka, Demmer, Soderstrom, Jeff Johnson, Sykora, Lanning, and Eastlund as authors of HF2. The motion passed in the House by voice vote on January 10, 2005.
  • Motion by Rep. Fran Bradley on January 13, 2005, to add Representatives of Hamilton, Garofalo, McNamara, Urdahl, Cybart, Cornish, Klinzing, Dempsey, Neil Peterson, Davids, Wardlow and Sviggum of as authors HF2. The motion passed in the House by voice vote on January 13, 2005.
  • Motion by Rep. Fran Bradley on January 24, 2005, to add Representatives Bruce Anderson, Hoppe, and Dittrich as authors of HF2. The motion passed in the House by voice vote on January 24, 2005.

Comments

Introduced by Rep. Jim Abeler, Rep. Bruce Anderson, Rep. Fran Bradley, Rep. Mike Charron, Rep. Tony Cornish, Rep. Lloyd Cybart, Rep. Gregory Davids, Rep. Matt Dean, Rep. Randy Demmer, Rep. Jerry Dempsey, Rep. Denise Dittrich, Rep. Rob Eastlund, Rep. Brad Finstad, Rep. Pat Garofalo, Rep. Paul Gazelka, Rep. Rod Hamilton, Rep. Joe Hoppe, Rep. Jeff Johnson, Rep. Karen Klinzing, Rep. Morrie Lanning, Rep. Denny McNamara, Rep. Erik Paulsen, Rep. Joyce Peppin, Rep. Neil W. Peterson, Rep. Duke Powell, Rep. Connie Ruth, Rep. Char Samuelson, Rep. Dan Severson, Rep. Dean Simpson, Rep. Judy Soderstrom, Rep. Steve Sviggum, Rep. Barb Sykora, Rep. Dean Urdahl, Rep. Lynn Wardlow and Rep. Tim Wilkin on January 6, 2005. New Comment