A new study published by the Brookings Institution reveals the rollout of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is imposing far more volatility and harm on people in Minnesota’s individual market…
The Star Tribune reported yesterday that the Minnesota Department of Commerce “asked” PreferredOne to lower insurance rates in the MNsure exchange last year. The July 2013 letter referenced in the…
Obamacare hit the news headlines April 1 by meeting the Obama administration’s goal of enrolling 7 million people by the March 31 enrollment deadline. Casually read the Twin Cities’ news…
Here’s the headline from yesterday’s MNsure press release: “mnsure reaches milestone, exceeds enrollment goal.” Scott Leitz, the interim CEO for MNsure, is “thrilled that more than 136,000 Minnesotans have enrolled in…
Yesterday the MNsure board deliberated over whether or not MNsure—Minnesota’s insurance exchange—should take an “active purchaser” approach, which would empower MNsure to limit the health plans and choices available in the exchange.…
Today the board of MNsure, Minnesota’s health insurance exchange, is scheduled to vote on whether to move forward with an “active purchaser” approach that will allow MNsure to essentially pick…
President Obama would now like Americans to turn their gaze away from the spectacularly botched launch of the health insurance exchange website and look to all the people helped by…
Yesterday President Obama decreed yet another “tweak” to key provisions of Obamacare and provided a “transitional policy” to allow for the continuation of the millions of health insurance policies that…
This piece originally appeared in the Pioneer Press on April 7, 2013. Gov. Dayton recently signed legislation passed on a party-line vote to require Minnesota to establish and operate a…
This piece originally appeared on USA Today and was written by Peter Nelson and Josh Archambault. Governors need to require greater flexibility in order to tailor reforms to their state.…
Last week the Minnesota House and Senate introduced legislation to establish a state-based health insurance exchange. The exchange is meant to be a new online marketplace to facilitate the purchase of health…
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires the establishment of an American Health Benefits Exchange that “facilitates the purchase of qualified health plans.” States are directed to establish these exchanges and,…
Health care initiatives often get derided as a patchwork, an inefficient and uncoordinated effort to fix something that really needs a more comprehensive approach. By comprehensive, most think single-payer European-style…
The House and the Senate have now passed separate omnibus health and human services bills that attempt to increase the number of Minnesotans with health insurance and restrain escalating health…
The performance of health savings accounts (HSAs) has muted most criticism of them. Initial research suggests these tax-favored savings accounts don’t favor only the young and wealthy. More importantly, people…
Gov. Tim Pawlenty recently made waves in a health policy speech when he said he believed Minnesota should move toward universal health coverage and that “as a goal, we should…
Tucked within the Minnesota House omnibus health and human services bill rests a proposal to create a statewide Health Insurance Exchange, a big idea that if passed into law would…
Gov.-elect Mark Dayton has announced that he will expand the state’s federally funded Medicaid program to poor adults without children as soon as Jan. 3. He plans to do so…
In 2005, the Onion reported this headline: "State of Minnesota Too Polite To Ask For Federal Funding." Gov. Tim Pawlenty is quoted in the article as saying, "Oh, we wouldn't…
As most expected, Democrats and Republicans are no closer to a compromise than they were before the White House’s much anticipated health-care summit. Unfortunately, that means that America is no…
A substantial effort is under way to save Minnesota’s General Assistance Medical Care program (GAMC) from expiring on March 1. As someone who wholly supports the reinstatement of GAMC, I’m…
In recent weeks the American Medical Association (AMA) stepped out and enthusiastically endorsed the health-reform bill proposed by House Democrats. This sparked a nationwide flurry of criticism from health-care providers,…
If Republicans and moderate Democrats in Congress aren't careful, the only health care reform issue they'll influence this summer will be whether or not the government sets up a Medicare-style…
Testimony of Peter J. Nelson, J.D.Policy Fellow, Center of the American Experiment Health Care and Human Services Finance DivisionRE: HF 1865, The Healthy Minnesota PlanApril 30, 2009 Mr. Chair, members…