Rep. Kristin Bahner

Maddy summaryHF 3772 prohibits for-profit health insurance companies in Minnesota from setting lower reimbursement rates for anesthesia services solely based on a provider's license type or title, as long as the service falls within their legally authorized scope of practice. This applies directly to for-profit health carriers and anesthesia providers (like nurse anesthetists or anesthesiologists) who perform services within Minnesota's practice laws. The key provision bans differential pricing based on provider credentials alone, requiring equal reimbursement rates for comparable anesthesia services. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, applying to health plans offered, issued, or renewed on or after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases funding for Minnesota's Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program, raising the annual appropriation from $10.27 million to $45.27 million. The additional funds will be used to reduce homelessness risks and improve program effectiveness, with a portion designated for the housing development fund. The legislation also grants agencies flexibility in awarding grants to existing grantees and allows new grantees in certain areas to work with advisory committees or local care systems without meeting specific statutory requirements. These changes take effect immediately and establish a future funding base of $10.72 million starting in fiscal year 2028.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new grant program to provide social services and mental health support to victims of Operation Metro Surge, a federal immigration enforcement operation. The program will fund organizations that help affected individuals with basic needs like housing, food, and employment assistance, as well as mental health care. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, government agencies, tribal nations, and legal service providers, with priority given to areas most impacted by the operation. The bill appropriates unspecified funding from the state's general fund for one-time use through June 2029, requiring grantees to report on program participation and outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota's medical assistance and MinnesotaCare programs to cover the removal of intrauterine devices. It amends state statutes to mandate this coverage and directs the commissioner of human services to implement the change. The legislation also appropriates funding from the general fund and health care access fund to support these costs in fiscal years 2027 through 2029. Coverage becomes effective on January 1, 2027, or later if federal approval is required. The bill affects individuals enrolled in these health programs who need IUD removal services.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies the rules for how health insurance companies in Minnesota must handle applications from doctors and clinics seeking to join their provider networks. It requires insurers to confirm whether an application is complete and, if so, provide a specific deadline for their decision, while also setting a 45-day maximum time limit for reviewing clean applications. If an application is missing information, the insurer must notify the provider within three business days, and if quality or safety concerns arise, the review period can be extended by up to 30 days. Additionally, the bill establishes that once a provider's application is deemed complete and approved, they are officially added to the health plan's network.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires online platforms operating in Minnesota to disclose information about how they use algorithms to rank or recommend content to users. It mandates that platforms provide design transparency and offer users meaningful choices, including accessible interfaces that minimize unnecessary clicks or taps. Covered businesses, defined as those operating online platforms using personal data to determine content prominence, must also implement long-term user value metrics and maintain holdout groups to test algorithmic changes. The legislation authorizes the Commerce Department to create specific rules and imposes civil penalties for noncompliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits pharmacy benefit managers in Minnesota from using spread pricing, a practice where they charge health plans higher prices for prescription drugs than they pay pharmacies, and requires their fees to be transparent and based only on the actual cost of services provided. It also imposes fiduciary duties on these managers and limits their income sources to prevent conflicts of interest that could affect drug pricing or coverage decisions. The legislation increases license application and renewal fees for pharmacy benefit managers and requires more detailed information in their applications, including details about leadership and governance. Additionally, the bill defines key terms like "rebates" and "spread pricing" to clarify how these financial arrangements are regulated under Minnesota law.

Maddy summaryHF 3630 makes technical updates to administrative processes for Minnesota's Department of Administration. It adds annual reporting requirements for Capitol event fees and expands detailed reporting on state agency contracts over $25,000, including performance evaluations. New definitions for historic preservation terms (like "historic properties" and "memorandum of understanding") are established, and consultation procedures for projects affecting historic sites are clarified. These changes primarily affect state departments, agencies, and political subdivisions managing contracts and historic preservation compliance.

Maddy summaryHF 2500 prohibits health insurance companies (health carriers) in Minnesota from using algorithms or artificial intelligence to approve or deny prior authorization requests for medical treatments. This applies to all health plans offered, sold, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026. The bill directly affects insurers by requiring human review for these coverage decisions, rather than automated systems. It amends Minnesota Statutes section 62A.59 to explicitly ban AI/algorithm use in this specific process.

Maddy summaryMinnesota bill HF 1855 requires veterans benefits service providers (who charge fees) to be federally accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It prohibits these providers from guaranteeing specific benefits or benefit amounts to veterans or their families. The bill mandates written disclosure statements and fee agreements before services are provided, and establishes civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation for noncompliance. This directly affects veterans seeking assistance with benefits appeals and the service providers offering those services.