Health carriers required to offer reference-based pricing health plans, open-ended promise-to-pay contracts prohibited, provider number framework established, and rulemaking authorized.

This bill requires health insurance carriers in Minnesota to offer plans that use reference-based pricing and bans open-ended promise-to-pay contracts that hide the total cost of care from patients. It also establishes a provider number system to help consumers identify specific medical facilities and clarifies that patients must be informed of estimated costs before signing financial agreements. Additionally, the legislation holds hospitals financially responsible for treating infections patients acquire during their stay, prohibiting facilities from billing patients for these hospital-associated infection costs. These changes aim to increase price transparency and shift the financial burden of hospital-acquired infections back to the providers where they originated.